Cake Mix Cookies are so simple to make — all you need is FIVE ingredients and one bowl!
Keep this recipe handy and swap the cake mix for any flavor you want – chocolate, vanilla, lemon, red velvet, Oreo, you name it! Or add chocolate chips for Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies.
What Are Cake Mix Cookies?
Cake mix cookies are cookies made with cake mix instead of traditional cookie ingredients. They’re quick to prepare because the mix already has most dry ingredients. Just add 3-ingredients: pudding mix, eggs, and butter. Then mix and bake. They’re soft, chewy, and versatile!
straightforward Cake Mix Cookie Recipe
Over the years, I’ve shared several recipes that use cake mix, like cake mix cupcakes, pumpkin cake mix cookies, and even ake batter popcorn. However, these cake mix cookies might just be the easiest yet—they’re a real piece of cake (see what I did there?)!
They require only five ingredients, and everything is mixed in one bowl.
Today, I’m sharing Funfetti specifically, but there are practically endless variations for making cake mix cookies. You can change up the cake mix flavor, add different fillings, or even try frosting or making whoopie pies! In fact, after seeing how much everyone loved those Oreo whoopie pies, I decided to make a Funfetti version and include directions for it here!
Ingredients In straightforward Cake Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix: Ensure it’s the right size for the recipe to work correctly. Don’t follow the box instructions; we’re using it differently.
- Pudding Mix: Adds flavor and moisture to the cookies. Be sure to use the instant (not cook and serve) kind.
- Eggs: Use large eggs for proper binding.
- Butter: Soften it to room temperature for straightforward mixing. Don’t melt the butter!
- Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor, but if you don’t have access to it, feel free to leave it out.
- Sprinkles (skippable for Funfetti version): Use jimmies sprinkles, not nonpareils. Fold them in gently to avoid dying the dough.
How To Make Cake Mix Cookies
- Mix Dough: Mix the cake mix, pudding mix, butter, eggs, and vanilla until it’s thick. mix in sprinkles if using.
- Chill Dough: Roll the dough into balls and put them in the fridge. This helps the cookies stay thick and puffy!
- Bake: Place the balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake. Leave them on the pan for 5 minutes after baking to finish setting.
Quick Tip
Bake the cookies until the edges are firm but the middle still looks a bit soft. They’ll keep cooking as they cool on the tray, so they stay soft instead of getting hard.
Cake Mix Cookie Tips
- Don’t Over-mix: Mix the dough until just combined. Over-mixing can result in tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough: If the dough is too sticky to handle, chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before shaping into balls. This will make it easier to work with.
- Uniform Size: Use a cookie scoop or measure the dough on a food scale to ensure uniform-sized cookies. This helps them bake evenly.
- Baking Time: Keep an eye on the cookies while they bake, as oven temperatures can vary. They are ready when the edges are lightly golden brown.
Cake Mix Cookies Variations
You can try any cake mix flavor for these cookie combos. Feel free to add your favorite extras or dunk baked cookies in melted white or milk chocolate.
- Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip: Mix red velvet cake mix with vanilla pudding and white chocolate chips.
- M&M: Add M&M candies to yellow or vanilla cake mix cookies.
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies: Combine chocolate cake mix, pudding, and chocolate chips.
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies: Use lemon cake mix with lemon pudding.
- Strawberry: Use strawberry cake mix and vanilla pudding mix with white chocolate chips.
- Spice Cookies: Use spice mix with vanilla pudding and enhance the flavors with pumpkin pie spice.
- Add Mix-Ins: mix in 1/2 cup of your favorite crushed or chopped mix-ins such as nuts, toffee, sprinkles, cookies, etc.
- Frosting: Top with vanilla frosting, Oreo frosting, or cream cheese frosting.
- Make Cake Mix Cookies for Christmas: Add red and green sprinkles to a yellow or white cake mix.
Make Cake Mix Cookie Whoopie Pies!
One of a reliable ways to enjoy these cookies is by turning them into whoopie pies. Simply prepare frosting, spread it on one cookie, and press another cookie on top to make a sandwich. Cover them and let them sit overnight. Enjoy your soft cake mix whoopie pies the next day!
Leftovers?
Store Cake Mix Cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.
Freeze the unbaked cookie dough rather than the baked cookies. You can bake the dough straight from the freezer, just add 1-3 minutes to the baking time.
More straightforward Dessert Recipes:
- Brownie Bites made with a brownie mix
- No Bake Dessert Cheese Ball
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake only 4-ingredients
- Golden Oreo Truffles dipped in chocolate
- Banana Pudding Recipe Magnolia copycat recipe
