7 Best Cake Mix Cookies
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From classic flavors to creative twists, these 7 super easy recipes deliver bakery-quality cookies in no time. We tested our cake mix cookies with both store-bought and Homemade Yellow Cake Mix so you can choose what works best for you. Let’s get baking!
Why You’ll Love Our Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
- Quick and Easy: All of these recipes start with Yellow Cake Mix. Every recipe has minimal ingredients and prep time.
- Versatile: You can use store-bought yellow cake mix or Homemade Yellow Cake Mix. Both have been tested and work well.
- Rigorously-tested: Our recipe contributor (also a pastry chef!), Rachel Riegel, tested many variations. We worked together to nail down the 7 BEST which you will find below.
- Foolproof: Great for beginner bakers or when you need a reliable, no-fail recipe.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Ideal for parties, potlucks, or a simple family treat everyone will love.
7 Cake Mix Cookies
We’ll start with simplest version you can make and move on to six more unique ways to jazz up the basic recipe…
Simple Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
These simple Yellow Cake Mix Cookie (recipe below) is quick to make with just a few ingredients, delivering soft and chewy cookies in no time. Perfect for any occasion, they’re an easy way to enjoy homemade cookies without the hassle.
Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies are crispy on the outside, soft and cake-like on the inside, and full of rainbow sprinkles and white chocolate chips.
Nutella Cake Mix Cookies
These completely unique Nutella cake mix cookies are crispy on the outside, fudgey on the inside, and full of chocolate hazelnut flavor.
Strawberries and Cream Cake Mix Cookies
These soft, gooey, and unique Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies are filled with white chocolate chips and strawberry flavor thanks to extract plus fresh and dried strawberries.
Lemon Poppyseed Cake Mix Cookies
These Lemon Poppyseed Cake Mix Cookies are bursting with bright citrus flavor, featuring a crispy exterior and a soft, doughy center. Loaded with poppy seeds and topped with a simple lemon glaze, they’re a refreshing twist on classic cookies.
Peanut Butter Cup Cake Mix Cookies
These soft Peanut Butter Cup Cake Mix Cookies are the perfect mix of salty and sweet with the chocolate and peanut butter flavors. The chopped Reese’s and chocolate chips takes them to the next level.
Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cookies
These 5-ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cookies are incredibly soft and cake-like and practically melt in your mouth. Full of pumpkin flavor and warm spices, they’re a cozy treat in the cold months.
Pro Tips from Our Pastry Chef
Our pastry chef, Rachel Riegel, made these notes during her many tests of these cookies:
- While a box mix works for all of these recipes, using the Thriving Home yellow cake mix is preferable as it includes no additives or preservatives! However, using a store-bought mix will create thicker, cake-like cookies with a recognizable “cake mix/batter” flavor.
- Be careful not to over bake cake mix cookies – it’s okay if they’re a little underbaked in the middle because they will continue to bake and solidify as they cool.
- Oil – Any neutral oil can be used–vegetable, canola, avocado, etc.
- If using a store-bought cake mix, the weight needs to be 15.25 ounces. Anything less than that may result in cookies that won’t fully set.
How to Freeze Cake Mix Cookies
Freeze for Later: The cookies can be frozen before (here’s how to freeze cookie dough) or after they are baked and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. If they have been baked, make sure they are fully cooled first.
Prepare from Frozen: Bake frozen cookie dough according to the recipe instructions – baking times will still be the same. For baked cookies, let thaw to room temperature and enjoy.
FAQs
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. However, if they have an icing on them that has milk or cream in it, the cookies will need to be stored in the refrigerator not at room temp.
They are so soft and cakelike – they practically melt right in your mouth. These cookies stay soft throughout and don’t form much of a crust on the bottom – you can either use a spatula to transfer them to the wire rack or just pull them right off the parchment (none of them stuck or ripped).
Because these cookies do not spread much as they bake, you can flatten dough with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup (spray with cooking spray to avoid sticking to cookie dough).
With these seven delicious cake mix cookie recipes, you’re all set to whip up easy, crowd-pleasing treats any time the craving hits. Whether you stick with classic flavors or experiment with new combinations, cake mix cookies make homemade baking faster, simpler, and just as satisfying.
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
A basic recipe for simple and delicious yellow cake mix cookies made with homemade yellow cake mix or a box mix from the store.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
- 1 batch of Yellow Cake Mix or 1 (15.25-ounce) box of yellow cake mix
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a cookie sheet by lining with parchment or coating with cooking spray. The cookies spread out quite a bit so it may be necessary to use more than one baking sheet or bake in batches.
- Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla (optional) until fully combined.
- Combine: Add cake mix to liquid ingredients and stir with a spatula or spoon to form a smooth dough.
- Portion: Form round balls using 2 rounded tablespoons of dough and place 3-4 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 13-15 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cookies will be done when they are almost fully set on the edges and slightly golden on the bottom.
- Store: Let cool for a couple of minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Freeze for Later: The cookies can be frozen before or after they are baked and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in an airtight container or ziploc bag. If they have been baked, make sure they are fully cooled first.
Prepare from Frozen: Bake frozen cookie dough according to the recipe instructions – baking times will still be the same. For baked cookies, let thaw to room temperature and enjoy.
Notes/Tips
- Using our homemade yellow cake mix will result in cookies that are thinner, crispy on the outside, and doughy in the middle (but include NO additives or preservatives). Using a store-bought mix will create thicker, cake-like cookies with a recognizable “cake mix/batter” flavor.
- If using store-bought cake mix, be sure to get a 15.25 ounce box or else the cookies won’t turn out correctly.
- For variations of this recipe, be sure to check out these other recipes:
Recipe Contributor: Rachel Riegel
Pastry Chef Rachel Riegel developed and rigorously tested this recipe for Thriving Home.
Rachel grew up in northern Michigan with a family that loved to cook and bake. She attended a career center for culinary and baking and pastry arts in high school and went to college at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. She graduated in August 2023 with a Bachelor’s in Food Business Managment and Baking and Pastry Arts.
In her free time, she loves to read, listen to true crime podcasts, go on walks, travel, and spend time with her fiancé.
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