Cake Mix Cookies
These easy cake mix cookies are made with just three ingredients, plus the mix-ins of your choice! I’m also sharing my favorite variations of this recipe to showcase how versatile it is.
If you’ve just been using your cake mix to make cakes, you’ve been missing out! As it turns out, boxed cake mix is the perfect shortcut for making soft, chewy cookies at a moment’s notice.
Plus, there are so many kinds of cookies you can make using just cake mix, oil, and eggs. This recipe works with any variety of boxed cake mix, and you can add any mix-ins you’d like to customize the cookies.
Funfetti, double chocolate, carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter — name a flavor combination, and you can likely make a cake mix cookie version of it.
This is a handy recipe to have on hand for birthday parties, cookie exchanges, and potlucks. The cookie dough doesn’t need to be chilled, so you can have cookies on the table in about 30 minutes!
Recipe Ingredients
These cake mix cookies couldn’t be simpler to make! You need just three core ingredients to make the actual cookies, and from there you can add whatever mix-ins you like. Here’s everything you need for this recipe:
- Boxed cake mix: I prefer to use either Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines cake mixes. You can use any kind that you prefer, just make sure to stick with one that’s 15.25 to 16.25 ounces.
- Oil: Use a neutral oil, like vegetable or canola. Melted coconut oil will work as well.
- Eggs: Need to be room temperature before being mixed into the dough. If you forget to sit them out ahead of time, place them in a bowl of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Sprinkles/Favorite Mix-In: Optional, but highly recommended! You can use just about any mix-in that you like in these cookies. (I’ve listed my favorite mix-in ideas further down in this post.)
How to Make Cookies with Cake Mix
These cookies take just a few minutes to prepare, and another 10 to 12 to bake. Quick and easy, right? Let’s review the basic steps to making them:
- Preheat the oven: While the oven preheats, line a couple of cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Make the cookie dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry cake mix, oil, and eggs. Then, add your mix-ins of choice.
- Form the cookie dough balls: The cookie dough is fairly sticky, so I prefer using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to drop it onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: The cookies need to bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. They should look set on top and just slightly browned around the edges.
Recipe Variations
You can customize this cake mix cookie recipe by pairing different types of cake mix with various mix-ins. Here are some of my favorite flavor combinations:
- Carrot Cake: Use one box of carrot cake mix. If desired, add ¼ cup of raisins and ¼ cups of chopped nuts to the cookie dough or top with cream cheese frosting.
- Strawberry White Chocolate: Use one box of strawberry cake mix and mix in 1 cup of white chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Chip: Use one box of yellow cake mix and mix in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Funfetti: Use one box of white or vanilla cake mix, and add 3 tablespoons of sprinkles and ½ cup of white chocolate chips.
- Lemon/Lemon Crinkle: Use one box of lemon cake mix and add 1 tablespoon of freshly grated lemon zest. For lemon crinkle cookies, coat in powdered sugar right before baking.
- Double Chocolate: Use one box of chocolate cake mix and add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Red Velvet: Use one box of red velvet cake mix and add 1 cup of white chocolate chips. You can also find my post on how to make red velvet cake mix cookies here.
- M&M: Use one box of yellow cake mix and add 1 cup of M&M candies.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter: Use one box of chocolate cake mix and add 1 cup of peanut butter chips or top with peanut butter frosting.
- Dreamsicle: Use one box of orange cake mix, add 1 tablespoon of freshly grated orange zest and 1 cup of white chocolate chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can swap out the oil in this recipe for an equal amount of melted butter.
No, the cake mix is added to the mixing bowl as a dry ingredient. You are not making cake batter like the box instructs!
Any flavor of cake mix will work in this recipe, so long as it’s 15.25 to 16.25 ounces.
Absolutely! Just make sure to use a box of gluten-free cake mix that’s similar in size to the one listed in the recipe.
Baking Tips
- Add the boxed cake mix like you would any dry ingredient. Do NOT add the extra ingredients called for on the box.
- This cookie dough is on the stickier side, so I recommend using a cookie scoop. If the dough is too difficult to scoop, you can place it in the fridge for one to two hours to make it easier to work with.
- Keep in mind that the cookies will firm up as they cool. If they still look soft after 12 minutes in the oven, don’t fret!
- I recommend using cake mix from Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker for this recipe. They’re my two favorites and always deliver impressive results!
More Easy Cookie Recipes To Try!
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Cookies
- Flourless Almond Butter Cookies
- Thumbprint Cookies
- Classic No-Bake Cookies
Recipe Video
Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box dry cake mix
- ⅓ cup vegetable or canola oil (80 ml)
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- Optional: 1/2 to 1 cup of your favorite mix-ins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry cake mix, oil, and eggs. Once combined, stir in your mix-ins of choice.
- Drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, about two tablespoons for each cookie.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are set and the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Do i need to mix the cake mix before adding the eggs and oil? Or do i just use the cake mix dry?
No, just use the dry cake mix.
I just made chocolate cookies using chocolate cake mix. I didn’t have any oil and only 1 egg so I used 1 stick of melted butter and put a cashew,an.almond .a pecan and a pistachio on top before baking .I think it tasted really good. ?
My cookies did not really spread out that much, they kind of looked more like scones than cookies. What did I do wrong?
Sorry to hear that, Alyssa. Did you happen to make any adjustments to the recipe?
Can I use chocolate chips instead of sprinkles?
That would be fine! You can use about 1 cup.
How do I avoid burning the bottom?
Did the bottom of your cookies burn? Did you use parchment paper and have you checked your oven temperature with an oven thermometer?
You can put another cookie sheet on the bottom rack of your oven while baking and it will help in cooking more evenly in a stubborn oven. I have to do this in my rv oven.
Can you use any flavor cake mix
Yes, I’ve tried quite a few and they all work well. The only one I’m not sure would work for this recipe is angel food cake mix, but all others should be fine!
I used butter pecan cake mix and added toffee chips and they turned out great!
I used angel food and cocoa powder in mine, they were delicious. I did have to bake them a minute or two longer. They remind me of chocolate crinkle cookies
Could you use butter? Would that make them crispy? Just wondering how it may change texture or taste
I haven’t tried them with butter. I don’t think it would make them crispier though.
Thanks Soooo Much!!!! I have been looking for this recipe so long. I am a ” empty nest grandma ” I will able to make cookies for Xmas! Happy Holidays!!
Hope everyone enjoys the cookies, Barbara! Happy Holiday to you too 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I used food coloring (kids made their own creations!) and it was perfect.
I have made these cookies using more than one type of cake mix. My grandchildren absolutely love them they can’t get enough of them. Thank you for the Insight on the cake cookies from a lot of happy grandchildren.
So glad to hear that everyone loves the cookies, Deena!
Wonderful recipes! I used white cake mix and white chips and cranraisins with a hint of orange extract and everyone raved about them!
Happy New Year.
So glad to hear that, Mary. Happy New Year as well!
I would like to make a chocolate chip cookie cake….could I use the cake mix for that?
Yes, that would be fine!
Mine made 11 cookies and they were really big. I used red velvet and white chocolate chips! I don’t know why people don’t love white chocolate!
I have a 15.25 box of cake mix would the measurement for the other ingredients stay the same?
That should be fine. I’ve made these with slightly smaller boxes of cake mix and never had any issues.
I used carrot cake mix worked great & orange frosting. diffrent & my grand kids liked them did,’t even think about carrots being in them!
I have tried this recipe 2 times and every time the bottoms kept burning. But anyway the cookies tops tasted great!!
Are you baking them on the middle rack?
I had that problem…solved it.
Smaller scoops of batter
Parchment paper
TOP rack of the ovem
If I’m using a White Cake mix, and want them to remain *white, do I use 2 egg whites? The box calls for same amount of whole eggs as egg whites …
I would stick with just using 2 eggs, otherwise, the cookies may not turn out the same.
I like to roll the cookie dough in powdered sugar before baking. Gives a great crackled effect to the tops of the cookies. Red Velvet cookies are wonderful with the powdered sugar added!
Will this work without sprinkles? Thanks!
Yes, that would be fine!
Do these freeze well?
Yes, absolutely! You can freeze the balls of cookie dough or the baked cookies that have cooled completely up to 3 months.
I just made this recipe using a devils food cake mix and butterscotch chips, it turned out A M A Z I N G!!!! I put them directly on a greased baking sheet (no parchment paper), flattened the tops of each ball and cooked for 12 minutes. For me it made 34 nicely sized cookies 🙂
I used a German chocolate cake mix and added butterscotch chips. Very easy and taste just like German chocolate cake!! I think next time I will add a little toasted coconut and chopped pecans. A great recipe and thanks for posting it!!
This is delicious. I used butter instead of oil for a richer taste. The only thing was that I could not do was roll it in a ball because the dough was so sticky. I dropped semi ball shaped using a spatula. The cookies weren’t Pinterest cute but they were delicious!!!!
If the dough is sticky, you can try refrigerating it for 20-30 minutes and that should help. Glad you liked the cookies!
I used a white cake mix and added red and green candied cherries(chopped) and almonds. I also added a teaspoon of almond flavoring to the batter. Gave them to my neighbors at Christmas and they all loved them
Very easy to make and they seem wonderful, my only issue is the recipe says for spoonfuls about 2 tablespoons and that it makes 22 cookies. I did about 2 tablespoons per cookie and got 13.. not sure if you meant 1 tablespoon for each but nonetheless my family will love the bigger cookies 🙂
I typically use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, you can try making them a little smaller next time 🙂
My first batch burned on the bottom, too. I set the oven to 325 and baked the next batch for 13 minutes. They came out golden brown on the bottom, perfect. My husband lived the burnt ones so my grandkids will love the perfect ones! Thanks for sharing your comments.
Sorry to hear that, Bobbi. Are you making sure to bake them on a middle rack too? I’ve never had any issues with them burning, so I’m not sure why that happened. Glad the second batch turned out better for you!
These were very easy. I used a gluten free cake mix. They were a bit crumbly but still delicious. I am thinking they need butter in stead of the avocado, coconut cooking oil I used. Any suggestions would be great!
Hi, Cindy! It could have possibly been the cake mix that you used. Did you use a similar size?
what can I use besides oil? I want to make cookies with my cake batter mix but I have no oil.
You could use butter, but the cookies won’t be quite the same.
I use the white cake mix add vanilla andor almond extract. White choc chips . Milk choc chips . walnuts . coconut flakes. Everyone raves over these cookies!
These sound delicious and I would love to try them. I have a boxed cake mix that’s gluten-free. Would it work with that too?
I think that would be fine!
I would like to make a batch or two for my husband who is deployed. In an airtight container, will these cookies survive about 3 weeks of travel?
I haven’t tried storing them that long, but they not be as good after 3 weeks.
Can she ship them frozen. Thawing on the way
According to the guidelines, anything frozen is prohibited from being shipped overseas. I do have a FoodSaver so I’m sending it vacuum sealed. (:
I think vacuum sealing is a good idea!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. Can a sugar free cake mix be usEd?
That should be fine.