Name: Pumpkin Cookies With A Cake Mix at Home
Yield: 36

These Pumpkin Cookies With a Cake Mix can be whipped together in a matter of minutes. They only require four ingredients: A cake mix, pumpkin, egg, and chocolate!

author’s note

Pumpkin Cookies Don’t Get Easier Than This!

It is satisfying to making cookies completely from scratch, but I’m also very much here for a shortcut that actually delivers.

These cookies are exactly that.

This is the recipe I pull out when my kids want to bake and I want something they can really help with instead of watching me measure out twelve different ingredients. Everything gets dumped into one bowl, stirred together, scooped onto a pan and baked.

And while they’re incredibly simple, they don’t feel boring. Spice cake mix gives the cookies plenty of cinnamon-y fall flavor, pumpkin makes them extra soft, and I add lots of chocolate chips because pumpkin + chocolate is one of a reliable combinations.

Fair warning though: these aren’t meant to be crisp or chewy like a traditional chocolate chip cookie. They’re very soft, fluffy and almost cake-like. That texture is exactly what makes them so good!

Ingredients

Ingredient	Tips & Swaps
Spice cake mix	It is worth a 15.25-ounce Betty Crocker Super Moist Spice Cake Mix. The box size matters, so check before using another brand.
Pumpkin	Use 100% pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling. I like Libby’s because it tends to be thick & consistent. If your pumpkin looks especially watery, blot away some excess moisture first.
Egg	One large egg gives these cookies a little more structure while keeping them soft.
Vanilla	skippable, but It is satisfying to the little extra layer of flavor it adds.
Chocolate chips	I especially love milk chocolate with pumpkin, but semi-sweet or dark chocolate also work. You can also swap some of the chocolate for toasted pecans or walnuts.

How To Make Pumpkin Cookies With A Cake Mix

Mix Wet Ingredients: Stir pumpkin, melted butter & brown sugar until smooth.
Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in flour, baking soda, salt & pumpkin pie spice.
Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips.
Chill: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
Bake: Scoop onto a baking sheet & bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Cool: move to a wire rack to cool.

Portioned scoops of pumpkin cookies with cake mix dough arranged on a sheet pan, ready for baking.

chelsea’s recipe tips

Tips For Pumpkin Cookies With A Cake Mix

Use a liner: These cookies are very sticky, so bake on a non-stick baking mat or parchment paper. Use a sharp metal spatula to remove them.
Let them set: Cool on the baking sheet for 5–7 mins before moving to a cooling rack.
Add extra chocolate: skippable, but great for more chocolate in every bite.
Use a spoon: Cookie scoops struggle with this sticky dough. Use a 4-teaspoon measuring spoon, then a small spoon to release and smooth the dough.

Storage

These pumpkin cookies with cake mix are best when fresh. They get soft and mushy if stored for too long. For the best flavor, bake and eat them within a few hours—fresh from the oven is reliable!