If you’re looking for a quick, crowd-pleasing holiday treat, these Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are the answer! They’re soft, chewy, colorful, and unbelievably easy to make — no complicated steps or fancy equipment required. With just a few pantry staples and your favorite cake mix, you can bake up a batch of cheerful cookies that taste like pure holiday joy.
Perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday dessert trays, or last-minute baking, these cookies are versatile enough to suit any flavor craving — from classic vanilla and chocolate to red velvet or funfetti.
🎅 Why You’ll Love These Cookies
✅ Made with just 4 ingredients
✅ Ready in under 20 minutes
✅ Soft, chewy, and full of Christmas spirit
✅ Customizable with any cake mix flavor and mix-ins
✅ Perfect for kids and family baking fun
🍰 Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix – any flavor (vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, funfetti, etc.)
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter or vegetable oil, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional, enhances flavor)
- ½ cup red and green M&M’s
- ¼ cup holiday sprinkles
- (Optional: ¼ cup white chocolate chips or crushed candy canes for decoration)
👩🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter (or oil), and eggs.
- Add vanilla extract, if using.
- Stir until a thick dough forms — it’ll be soft but not sticky.
- Gently fold in M&M’s, sprinkles, and any other mix-ins you like.
Step 3: Scoop and Shape
- Scoop about 1½ tablespoons of dough per cookie.
- Roll into balls and place on the baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Press a few extra M&M’s or sprinkles on top for a festive look.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft (they’ll continue to bake as they cool).
Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
🎁 Decorating Ideas
🎨 Drizzle with melted white chocolate and add crushed peppermint candies.
🍬 Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate and sprinkle with holiday sprinkles.
✨ Add frosting between two cookies for a festive sandwich treat.
🎄 Use red velvet or green food coloring for an extra Christmas touch!
🌟 Flavor Variations
🍫 Chocolate Peppermint: Chocolate cake mix + peppermint extract + crushed candy canes
🍪 Funfetti Christmas: Funfetti cake mix + red & green sprinkles
❤️ Red Velvet Bliss: Red velvet cake mix + white chocolate chips
🍋 Lemon Snow Cookies: Lemon cake mix + powdered sugar coating
🥥 Coconut Christmas: White cake mix + shredded coconut + almond extract
🍪 Pro Tips for Perfect Cake Mix Cookies
💡 Don’t overmix — mix just until ingredients are combined for a soft, chewy texture.
💡 Chill dough for 10–15 minutes if it’s too sticky to handle.
💡 Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies.
💡 Press extra M&M’s on top before baking for a picture-perfect finish.
🧊 Storage & Freezing
- Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer (Baked): Freeze cooled cookies for up to 3 months.
- Freezer (Dough): Roll dough balls and freeze them raw. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes.
🎄 Perfect for the Holidays
These Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are the ultimate festive dessert for:
- Holiday parties & cookie swaps
- Gift boxes & goodie bags
- Christmas Eve snacks for Santa
- Fun family baking days with kids
They’re soft, colorful, and filled with holiday cheer — and nobody has to know how easy they were to make!
💖 Final Thoughts
With their soft centers, colorful candies, and buttery cake-like flavor, Cake Mix Christmas Cookies bring instant holiday happiness to any dessert table. They’re the perfect combination of simplicity and sweetness — festive, fun, and full of Christmas magic.
Whether you make them classic or customize them with your favorite flavors, these cookies will definitely become a holiday baking tradition in your home. 🍪✨🎅
Print
🎄 Cake Mix Christmas Cookies – Festive, Easy, and Irresistibly Soft
Ingredients
• 1 box (15.25 oz) white or yellow cake mix (any brand)
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or sprinkles (optional)
• Optional: ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Festive Variations:
• Red Velvet: Use red velvet cake mix + white chocolate chips
• Lemon: Use lemon cake mix + poppy seeds
• Chocolate Chip: Use yellow cake mix + ½ cup chocolate chips
• Funfetti: Use funfetti cake mix + extra sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla (if using). Mix until well blended.
- Fold in nuts, chips, or sprinkles if desired.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place on trays (they spread slightly).
- Bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Let cool on the tray 5 minutes—they’ll firm up as they cool. Then transfer to a wire rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a snowy finish!
✨ Perfect for:
• Cookie exchanges
• School parties
• Last-minute treats
💡 Make ahead: Dough can be chilled for thicker cookies. Freeze unbaked balls for quick treats later!
PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 10 mins , Cook Time : 10 mins , Total Time : 20 mins , Servings : 24 cookies , Calories : 90 per cookie , Net Carbs: 14g , Fats: 4g , Protein: 1g