Made with 3 ingredients and your favorite mix-ins, this cake mix cookies recipe is a fun and easy way to bake a batch of cookies! Cake mix is a semi-homemade shortcut that you can customize with different flavors. There’s no need to chill the dough before they bake!
Cake mix cookies are one of the best baking hacks. They’re soft and cakey, with chewy edges, and you only need 3 ingredients. The flavor is up to you! That’s the best part about baking cake mix cookies: You can change up the flavors just by changing the cake mix. The rest of the recipe stays the same, but you can try it with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry cake mix, funfetti, and more. The mix-in possibilities are just as endless.
The Best Cake Mix Cookie Recipe
- Any flavor. Combine different cake mixes and add-ins to make your own delicious creations. Try a version of red velvet cookies, lemon cake mix cookies, or make chocolate peanut butter M&M cookies with a box of chocolate cake mix.
- Only 3 ingredients. A box of cake mix cuts the shopping list for these cookies in half, since it already contains most of the ingredients. If you have a box mix, butter, and eggs on hand, you can make cake mix cookies.
- Cake-like texture. It comes with the territory, but there truly isn’t anything like the soft-baked, cakey texture and subtle chew of a cake mix cookie!
Only 3 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients needed to make these box cake mix cookies at home. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with amounts.
- Boxed Cake Mix – I base this recipe on a 15.25-ounce box of cake mix. Any flavor goes.
- Melted Butter – Vegetable oil works just as well, but I like that butter has more flavor.
- Large Eggs – To bind the dough and help the cookies turn out tender and chewy.
Cake Mix Options
Looking for flavor inspiration? From red velvet cake mix cookies to strawberry cake mix cookies, here are some of my favorite flavor variations.
- Chocolate
- Strawberry
- Funfetti
- Red velvet
- Angel food
- Lemon
- Yellow cake
- Devil’s food
What Can I Add to Cake Mix Cookies?
These could be chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, freeze-dried fruit, or Oreo cookie pieces. Whatever you’re craving! An easy way to put some variety into a batch of cake mix cookies is to make the cookie dough and then split it in two. From there, you can choose your mix-ins for each half.
How to Bake Cookies From Cake Mix
If you’d like to make your cookie dough ahead of time, just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge overnight. You may have to let it rest at room temperature for a bit before you form the cookies.
- Make the cookie dough. Combine the cake mix, butter, and eggs to make the dough. Stir in your choice of mix-ins.
- Shape the cookies. Since there’s no chilling in this recipe, you can go straight to portioning the cookie dough into balls. Arrange the dough on a lined cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches in between each cookie.
- Bake. Bake your cake mix cookies at 350ºF for 9-11 minutes. That’s it!
How to Know When They’re Done
The goal here is not to overbake the cake mix cookies. The cookies are done when they’re just set at the edges and soft in the middle (not wet), for soft-baked cookies. They’ll cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two, and then you can move the cookies to a wire rack.
Cookie Baking Tips
- Baking times may vary. Depending on your oven and the kind of cake mix you used, you may need to adjust the bake time by a minute or two. Just keep an eye on the cookies and take them out as soon as they look done.
- Anticipate spreading. Unless you’re making cut-out cookies, a bit of spreading is almost inevitable in cookie recipes, especially no-chill ones. It’s best to keep each ball of dough about 2 inches apart from the others so they don’t spread into each other while they bake.
- Don’t overbake. Once the edges of your cookies look set, go ahead and remove them from the oven. The centers will firm up as the cookies cool, and you definitely don’t want to over-bake them, which causes them to harden and dry out.
Cake Mix Cookies, 4 Ways
Based on the cake mix options and add-in suggestions earlier in the post, these are some ways you can prepare cake mix cookies like the ones pictured. The wonderful thing about this recipe is that I can customize it for any occasion, holiday, or gathering.
- Strawberry funfetti cake mix cookies: Make the dough with a box of strawberry cake mix. For the add-ins, use 3/4 cup of white chocolate chips and 1/4 cup of rainbow sprinkles. You could also use Funfetti cake batter and swap out the sprinkles for diced freeze-dried strawberries.
- Butterscotch chip cookies: Use yellow cake mix for the dough and a combination of toffee bits and butterscotch chips for the mix-ins.
- Double chocolate cake mix cookies: Make your dough with devil’s food cake mix and stir in your favorite chocolate chunks.
- Mint chocolate chip cookies: Use vanilla or chocolate cake mix for the dough and chopped Andes mints for the mix-ins. Alternatively, add crushed peppermint and chocolate chips.
Storage and Freezing
- Store airtight. Once your extra cookies have cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy them within 3-4 days for the best results.
- Freeze. Freeze the cooled cookies on a lined baking sheet for about half an hour. Once they’ve stiffened up, transfer them to an airtight container or storage bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them out on the counter before you enjoy them.
More Quick & Easy Cookie Recipes
Cake Mix Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 22 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
My favorite cake mix cookies recipe is easy to make with only 3 ingredients and no chilling required! Choose your cake mix flavor and your favorite mix-ins. They’re soft, cakey, and delicious.
Ingredients
- 15.25-ounce box cake mix
- 1/2 cup melted butter (or vegetable oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mix-ins of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- In a large mixer bowl, add the cake mix, melted butter and eggs and mix until well combined.
- Stir in your choice of mix ins.
- Bake balls of about 2 tablespoons each and place onto prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the cookies are set. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then removed to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- To Store: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container and enjoy within 3-4 days.
- To Freeze: Freeze cooled cookies on a lined baking sheet for about half an hour. Once stiffened, transfer to an airtight container or storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw out on the counter before enjoying.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 103
- Sugar: 6.7 g
- Sodium: 20.2 mg
- Fat: 7.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.2 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol: 28 mg
These turned out perfect and made 18 medium/large cookies I did rainbow cake and dark chocolate mix ins 🙂
Hello! Tried these last week and they were delicious! Mine ended up a little thicker/“cake” like rather than looking like yours.. any suggestions? Delicious either way and awesome to make with my kiddos. We’re making more tomorrow =)
I’m not sure. I would think this recipe is fairly straightforward. It’s possible that different brands of cake mix would give slightly different results. I honestly don’t remember which I used, but I’m guessing Pillsbury. Glad you enjoyed them!
Have you tried adding in instant pudding? I want to make it with pistachio pudding. Do you think it would work?
I haven’t tried it, so it’s hard to say.
They are very delicious. I found in order to keep the flavor fresh store separately. Example: store lemon separate from Chocolate etc… I have been making these over 20 years. Always a family favorite! Peanut butter chips are great in a chocolate cake mix !
We have tried so many different varieties! So easy for the kids to help with, and so good!
Thank You!
So glad you enjoyed them!
Haven’t tried it yet but what if the cake mix is too runny can u add more flour ? I know the ones I use are a bit runny n won’t hold like normal dough does my cake mixes use milk as well maybe that’s why it’s more of a liquid
You don’t want to add the amount of ingredients that are on the box or it will end up very thin. Add the ingredients as they are listed in this recipe to the cake mix and it should come out as a dough.
Since Betty Crocker decided to reduce the amount of cake mix from 18oz to 15oz, make sure you’re using the Duncan Hines 18oz mix! If you can only find the other one, reduce your oil to 1/3cup. 🙂
Hi, i made many many varieties and many batches in a jiffy for our bake sale at church. They were a huge hit and loved by everyone. Of course it was an opportunity to tell them about your great site as well. Continued success!! And, Happy cooking!
So glad to hear that! And thank you so much for sharing my site with people!
Oooo Yum! I just made a batch now… Added chocolate chips and walnuts.. DELICIOUS!.
I THINK I will be making these all year round.. ❤️❤️
Sounds tasty! Glad you enjoyed them!
Wait, where did you get toffee chips I have been looking everywhere?
They usually have them at Walmart on the baking ingredient aisle.
My cookies spread A LOT! But the kids didn’t mind because they were still delicious!! Thanks for the fun and easy recipe!
I’m glad they enjoyed them! I’m not sure why they spread so much. It could be a difference in the particular box mix. I believe I used Betty Crocker when testing these.
We might try that next time! Thanks Lindsay 🙂
I’m giving these a five star rating because I can’t imagine them being anything but!
The cookies sound delicious and with endless possibilities ….I can’t wait to give them a try…..do you know if they freeze OK!?
I didn’t try freezing them, but I imagine they would do perfectly fine.
Thank you!….I made mine with a ‘Butter Pecan’ cake mix and added butterscotch chips and extra pecans on the top….when I told my hubby they we’re good for 3/4 days and was going to freeze some…he told me not to bother they wouldn’t be around that long …..they are Yummy…I agree.
LOL! I’m so glad you both enjoyed them!
These are so pretty! I’ve never tried making cookies using a cake mix! Great idea 🙂
Hi Lindsay, what is ‘Mix Ins’? Sorry for the question, but I don’t know what it is! Thanks!
So that would be any thing you want to mix into the cookies, like chocolate chips, toffee bits, crushed up Oreos or any number of things.
So pretty! And they look so delicious!
What a lovely riot of colors!Lovely cookies
Hi, Lindsay! Haven’t made these cookies as of yet, but want to know if I can add in old fashioned oatmeal without messing them up. This way I could make some really good oatmeal craisin cookies! What do you think? Susan Rasek. Swrasek@hotmail.com
You know, it never even occurred to me to try that out. I don’t know exactly how that would turn out, but I’m guessing it should be all right. You might end up needing to add a little more melted butter to account for the extra dryness of the oatmeal.