Cake Mix Christmas Cookies Recipe
There’s just something magical about pulling a batch of Cake Mix Christmas Cookies out of the oven—the sweet aroma of vanilla, the festive pops of color, and that promise of bite-sized holiday joy. This cookie recipe is a pure celebration of holiday ease and cheer: box cake mix, a short ingredient list, and very little fuss, yet the results are soft, buttery, and almost too adorable to eat (almost!). Whether you’re baking with little helpers, prepping for a cookie exchange, or simply want a festive treat without all-day baking, these cookies are sure to add sparkle to your season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Cake Mix Christmas Cookies is their simplicity—every ingredient here does some heavy lifting when it comes to flavor, texture, or festive style. With just a few pantry staples, you’ll create cookies that are soft, chewy, and decorated with holiday happiness in every bite.
- Cake Mix (1 box vanilla or white): The shortcut superstar that delivers sweetness, structure, and a tender crumb without any complicated measuring.
- Eggs (2 large): These bind everything together and add irresistible richness to the dough.
- Vegetable Oil (1/2 cup): Keeps the cookies ultra-moist and helps give them their signature chew.
- Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Amp up the cozy holiday flavor with a shot of fragrant vanilla—don’t skip it!
- Red and Green Sprinkles or Holiday M&Ms (1/2 cup): Every bite bursts with festive color and crunch, making each cookie instantly holiday-ready.
- White Chocolate Chips (1/4 cup, optional): These add melty pockets of creamy sweetness—totally optional, but highly recommended for white chocolate fans.
How to Make Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C)—the perfect temperature for cookies that bake up golden around the edges but stay soft in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure your cookies lift off easily (and no scrubbing later!). This small step keeps your cookies picture-perfect.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
Grab your largest mixing bowl and pour in the cake mix. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir everything together with a big spoon or spatula. That dough will look thick and sticky—exactly what you want for chewy, bakery-style cookies! No electric mixer needed—just a little elbow grease.
Step 3: Add the Festive Mix-ins
Sprinkle in your red and green sprinkles, holiday M&Ms, and if you’re feeling decadent, white chocolate chips. Gently fold them into the dough so every bite gets a pop of color and crunch. Be creative—customize with your favorite holiday mix-ins for a true signature touch!
Step 4: Shape and Bake
Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls (a cookie scoop makes this super quick!). Space the dough balls about two inches apart on your baking sheet, so they have room to spread as they bake. Pop the tray in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. You’re looking for set edges and soft, slightly underbaked centers—they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
Step 5: Cool and Enjoy
Once the cookies come out of the oven, let them rest on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This short wait helps them set up and gives you perfect, sturdy cookies that are still wonderfully soft inside. Try to resist eating one while still warm (okay, maybe just one!).
How to Serve Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
Garnishes
Turn every batch into a holiday showstopper by topping warm cookies with a sprinkle of extra colored sugar or a few extra M&Ms while they’re still soft. If you love a little extra sparkle, edible glitter or a drizzle of white chocolate will make each treat worthy of a holiday dessert table!
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a cozy mug of hot cocoa, creamy eggnog, or your favorite holiday latte. For dessert platters, they look (and taste!) fantastic alongside classic sugar cookies, gingerbread men, or brownies for a colorful, irresistible spread everyone will adore.
Creative Ways to Present
Fill a festive tin or a clear cellophane bag with a big handful of Cake Mix Christmas Cookies for easy homemade gifts. Stack a few with a ribbon for stocking stuffers, or arrange them on a tiered dessert stand for a centerpiece that will have guests oohing and aahing at your holiday party.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Cake Mix Christmas Cookies soft and fresh for up to five days in an airtight container at room temperature. Slip a slice of sandwich bread into the container to maintain moisture—the cookies will stay bakery-fresh (and the bread will do the hard work for you!).
Freezing
Freeze baked cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls—simply pop them straight from the freezer onto the baking sheet, add a minute or two to the baking time, and enjoy fresh cookies with zero fuss.
Reheating
To restore that “just baked” magic, warm cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or place them on a baking sheet in a low oven (about 275°F) for a few minutes. This revives their softness and makes the chocolate chips perfectly melty again.
FAQs
Can I use any flavor of cake mix for Cake Mix Christmas Cookies?
Absolutely! While vanilla or white cake mix makes the festive colors really pop, you can try chocolate, red velvet, or even spice cake mix for a different twist. Each flavor brings its own subtle charm to the cookies, so don’t be afraid to experiment!
Why are my cookies flat or spreading too much?
Too much oil or not enough flour can cause cookies to spread more than you want. Make sure you measure your oil accurately and use the standard size box of cake mix. Chilling the dough for 20-30 minutes before baking can also help control spreading in warmer kitchens.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, just swap the cake mix for your favorite gluten-free variety—most big brands offer a gluten-free option, and the rest of the recipe remains the same. Check product labels to ensure all your mix-ins are gluten-free too.
What’s the best way to get evenly sized cookies?
A standard cookie scoop is your best friend for quick, uniformly sized cookies. If you don’t have one, scoop the dough with a regular tablespoon and roll it into balls with your hands for surprisingly consistent results.
How do I keep my Cake Mix Christmas Cookies chewy?
Be careful not to overbake: pull them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still soft, then let them finish setting on the baking sheet. This simple trick is the secret to ultra-soft, chewy cookies every time.
Final Thoughts
Bring a little magic to your holiday baking with these irresistible Cake Mix Christmas Cookies—they’re colorful, simple, and impossible to resist. Whether you’re making memories with family or bringing cheer to a cookie swap, it’s a festive treat that everyone will love. Give them a try this season and let your kitchen be filled with the sweetest kind of holiday joy!
Print
Cake Mix Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are a quick and festive treat perfect for the holiday season. Using a simple cake mix base, these cookies are loaded with colorful sprinkles and white chocolate chips for a delightful twist on traditional cookies.
Ingredients
Cake Mix Christmas Cookies:
- 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup red and green sprinkles or holiday M&Ms
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dough: In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir until dough forms.
- Add Mix-Ins: Fold in sprinkles, M&Ms, and white chocolate chips.
- Bake: Scoop dough onto baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool and Enjoy: Cool on sheet, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra holiday flavor, try using a spice cake mix or adding peppermint extract.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
