Christmas Cake Mix Cookies are soft, chewy and absolutely delicious! These quick and easy cookies are festive in red and green, perfect for the holiday season!
These are a a cookie recipe kids love to eat AND help make!
Cake Mix Cookies start with a mix and quickly come together as a favorite Christmas cookie.
They have the BEST soft and chewy consistency! The added candies and baking chips only make them that much better.
Regular or gluten-free cake mix can be used too. We’ve tested both!
Serve with a glass of warm Eggnog, Wassail, Christmas Punch or Rompope for the adults!
EASY Christmas Cookie Recipe
Everyone should have an EASY holiday cookie recipe on hand. One that delivers a delicious festive vibe but doesn’t take hours to make or tons of effort.
These cake mix cookies are that Christmas Cookie recipe!
Staring with a vanilla cake mix base, everything has been put together for you so no measuring of dry ingredients.
Two wet ingredients are added, some color and fun stir-in ingredients.
The cookies are Christmas colored and delicious!
Cake Mix Cookie Basic Recipe
Cake mix cookies contain three ingredients as a base:
- 1 box Cake Mix
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Vegetable oil
With this basic formula you can create any type of cake mix cookie.
Any flavor cake mix can be turned into cookies: chocolate cake mix, white cake mix, red velvet etc.
The flavor of the cake mix creates the flavor of the cookie.
How to Make Variations
Often other ingredients are stirred in.
One half to one cup of chocolate chips, nuts, candies, dried fruit, crushed candy canes or a combination can change the flavor of the cookies.
We made this version Christmas themed but it would be easy to change the coloring and make them for Valentine’s Day, Easter or Fourth of July too.
Hang on to this basic recipe to create your own versions!
Here are two more of our favorites:
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Vanilla Cake Mix. A standard 15.25-ounce vanilla cake mix is used for this recipe. See the notes below if using a gluten-free cake mix.
Eggs. Two eggs are used in this recipe. This is a standard amount for most cake mix cookie recipes.
Vegetable oil. One half cup of vegetable oil will be added. This is a standard amount for most cake mix cookie recipes.
Green food coloring. For these Christmas Cookies we used a green food coloring to dye the cookie dough.
Red and Green M&M’s. Holiday colored M&M’s bring the festive feel!
White chocolate baking chips. Add a creamy white chocolate flavor.
What size cake mix to use?
The standard size cake mix is 15.25-ounces as of the writing of this recipe. However they can vary up to 18-ounces.
The standard addition of 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of oil should work with cake mixes ranging up to 18-ounces.
Using a Gluten-free Cake Mix
Gluten-free cake mixes can range in size. Outside of mainstream cake mix brands (gluten brands) you’ll find them to be different sizes.
If the mix makes a typical 2-layer cake it will work. Those mixes range from 18-22 ounces.
We used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Vanilla Yellow Cake mix for the gluten-free cookie version and they were delicious!
What is the best food coloring for baking?
Any food coloring can be used for this recipe but our recommendation is gel food coloring.
Gel food coloring creates the most brilliant color and it doesn’t fade when baking.
Only a few drops will create a rich color too. They are made by a few brands Americolor and Wilton being two.
How to Make them – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Making the Cookie Dough.
In a large bowl (or bowl of a standing mixer) best together the cake mix, eggs and oil until combined (photo 1).
Add the food coloring and fully mix in (photo 2).
Stir in the M&M’s and white baking chips (photo 3).
STEP 2. Chill the dough.
Cover and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
The dough can be sticky and this makes it easier to work with.
STEP 3. Make and Bake the Cookies.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a tablespoon or 1-tablespoon cookie scoop (recommended) scoop the dough, roll into a ball and place on the cookie sheet.
Press down slightly and add a few M&M’s and baking chips on top (photo 4). Leave 2 inches space between the cookies.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are set and only slightly turning golden on the edges (photo 5).
Remove from oven, allow to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
Pro Tips for Handling Sticky Dough
In general cake mix cookie dough tends to be stickier especially as it warms. Chilling the cookie dough helps with stickiness when making the cookies.
- For the step of rolling the cookies into a ball, use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop if possible.
- Don’t over handle the cookies when making the balls.
- Spray your fingers with non-stick cooking spray to help the dough from sticking to your fingers and palms!
Storing Cake Mix Cookies
After they cool completely, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
How to Freeze them
Allow the cookies to cool completely. Place them in an airtight freezer safe container with single layers separated by wax paper. Freeze for up to 3 months.
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love!
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies recipe (Cut-Out Sugar Cookies)
- Lofthouse Cookies – Soft Sugar Cookies recipe
- The Best Sugar Cookie Frosting recipe
- Butter Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
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Recipe
Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce box vanilla cake mix regular or gluten-free*
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 drops green gel food coloring
- ½ cup red and green M&Ms plus more for decorating
- ½ cup white chocolate chips plus more for decorating
Instructions
- Beat together the cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil just until combined.
- Add the food coloring and beat until well mixed.
- Stir in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a tablespoon (or a 1 tablespoon cookie dough scoop) to scoop a heaping spoonful of dough. Roll the dough into a ball and place it on the lined baking sheet. Press the dough down slightly, then decorating with additional candy and chocolate chips if desired. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies are set and the edges of the cookies are just turning slightly golden in color.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to chill the dough as directed.
- Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop if possible.
- Don't overhandle the dough.
- If needed spray your fingers and palms of your hands with non-stick cooking spray.
Patricia says
These are so fun for the holidays! Perfect match with decorations 😉
Sandra says
My kids wouldn’t stop eating these!! Such a great gift too!
wilhelmina says
Cake mix cookies are so easy and yummy! I love this super festive version!
Catalina says
Who can resist to these cookies! Such a great Christmas gift idea for my neighbors.
Sara Welch says
Adding this to my holiday baking line up! Such a fun and easy way to enjoy some holiday treats!
Stephanie Manley says
We made these, I called them Grinch cookies, the kids loved them! I didn’t know you can use cake mix to make cookies.
cathy says
These turned out so adorable on my cookie tray!
Erin says
These Christmas Cake Mix Cookies are so delicious! Dangerously good…
Lindsay Cotter says
I love how easy these are to make! They’re perfect for the holiday cookie platter!