Get ready to be blown away by this Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe! These simple cake mix cookies are just 5 basic ingredients and so fun to make!
If you’re looking for more last minute holiday treats to add to your cookie plates, check out my Last Minute Fudge, Peppermint Pretzel Crisps or these Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls!
We all know that December is a busy time of the year. Christmas band concerts, school plays (possibly virtual) and the hustle and bustle keep us on our toes.
Don’t let the thought of making cookies for your neighbors, friends, kids, family… yourself… bring you down. With this super easy cake mix cookie recipe you’ll be singing carols and dancing around the kitchen!
Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe
Not only are these Christmas cookies super easy to make, but they’re also soft, chewy and taste like a dream!
Ingredients For Cake Mix Cookies
Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need to make these cookies. As always, you can find the full list along with a printable version in the recipe card below.
- White Cake Mix – you can use vanilla or any other flavor you like!
- Eggs
- Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Sprinkles – I recommend using a cake sprinkle so the colors don’t bleed into the cookie dough.
How To Make Cookies with Cake Mix
These easy cookies are so fun to make, we actually make them all year long with all sorts of flavor options. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies are one of our favorites!
- Start by combining the cake mix powder (just the powder) in a large bowl along with 2 eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
- Use a sturdy spoon to mix until it becomes a soft dough. If desired, stir in a few sprinkles!
- Next, scoop out about 1 tbsp of dough and roll it around in a small bowl of sprinkles to coat completely.
- Finally, bake the cookies for just 9 to 10 minutes and let cool completely.
My kids love helping me coat the cookie dough in sprinkles!
You can use any color of sprinkles you like. How cute are these red, green and white sprinkles for Christmas?!
Tips and Variations for Cake Mix Cookies
The possibilities are ENDLESS when it comes to cake mix cookies. Since they’re so easy to make, you can make a whole platter of different cookies in no time!
Here are a few variations you can try, along with one of my favorite time-saving tips and tools…
- Lemon Cake Mix with White Chocolate Chips
- Chocolate Cake Mix with Peppermint Chips
- Red Velvet Cake Mix with Crushed Up Oreos
- Chocolate Cake Mix with Mini M&Ms
- Strawberry Cake Mix with colorful sprinkles
- Funfetti Cake Mix with rainbow sprinkles
PRO TIP: When it comes time to scoop the cookie dough, I like to use my handy cookie scoop. It keeps my hands clean and makes scooping cookies a breeze.
I also love to use a silicone baking mat for easy, non-sticking of cookies!
Is It Better To Freeze Cookies Before or After Baking?
Wanting to get a head start on baking this year? Good news! This Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe can easily be prepped ahead of time and frozen to free up your holiday season.
Freezing Cookie Dough
Freezing cookie dough will last for 3 to 4 months.
- The easiest way to freeze these drop cookies is to shape the cookie dough into balls and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
- Pop the tray in the freezer and let the cookie dough freeze for about an hour before placing the cookie dough balls into a zip close bag and squeezing out as much air as possible.
- When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen cookie dough balls on a baking sheet and bake right away! Don’t forget to add a few minutes to the bake time.
Freezing Cookies After Baking
Let the baked cookies cool completely and then freeze for 3 to 4 weeks.
- Make sure you let the baked cookies cool completely before placing in a zip close bag and squeeze out as much air as possible.
- Use a sharpie marker to label the cookies so you know when you put them in the fridge for max freshness!
- When ready to enjoy just pull them out of the freezer, place them on a plate and let them come to room temperature!
I really love how soft and chewy these cake mix cookies are. The coating of sprinkles gives it a nice crunch of texture to the outside too.
It’s a party in your mouth!
More Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes To Try
Wanting to add a few more festive treats to your baking list this year? No problem! I’ve got you covered with these tasty recipes…
I can’t wait for you to give this easy recipe a try!
Easy Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz Vanilla Cake Mix, or similar size
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups cake sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Combine the cake mix powder, eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract in a large bowl with a sturdy wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. If desired, stir in ¼ cup sprinkles.
- Scoop 1 tbsp of dough and roll into a ball, then roll in sprinkles until coated. Place on baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, until set and then let cool for 2 to 3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THE RECIPE:
Creamy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Michelle H
Can’t wait to try these. So many easy looking variations, too. I’,m a subscriber…a lot of saved recipes from you’re site. 😀
Beth
Excited to try this!
Maureen Anderson
These cookies will be my new “go to” recipe every Christmas! I have been a subscriber for many years and my family has absolutely loved every dish I have made from your recipes. I appreciate how you thoroughly explain each step and provide videos for people like me who tend to be challenged in the kitchen. Keep the fantastic recipes coming!!!
Debra
Wow – I wouldn’t have thought of making cookies from a cake mix. What a great idea. And thanks for the tip about freezing the cookie balls ahead of time to pop in the oven later – that’s BRILLIANT. I love your recipes!! ;-D
Nakita
I love these quick and easy recipes. These are a last minute surprise for anyone
Sandra Ziniti
I’m an email subscriber. This recipe looks yummy and easy (my favorite combinations).
Maria Jayme-Martin
These cookies look delicious and the recipe looks easy, which is a plus when baking a lot for the holidays. Thanks for posting! Love your recipes.
Debra Schuster
Wow – I wouldn’t have thought of making cake mix cookies for Christmas. And being able to make ahead and freezing the cookie balls to pop into the oven later is BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe and your ideas.
Kelly Bairos
I had to click on this one right away when it popped into my email! I love cake and cookies so this sounds like a perfect combo. I can’t wait to try them out, I’m going to pick up some cake mix on my next grocery run!
Kay Harris
I also have made many of your recipes. What a brilliant idea to use the cake mix. I have a daughter who does not keep many staples on hand. This will be great for her and her little girl to make together. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas.
NANCY E HAMMOND
Looks delicious and seems fairly easy with basic steps. Not a long lost of ingredients I’m definitely going to try this one. All of Shawn’s recipes are fool-proof and have turned out well for me.
Loretta Whitcomb
I am a subscriber and I am going to make chocolate chip cookies with chocolate cake mix for my wonderful CHOCOLATE loving son in law for a wonderful surprise.
Tammy Petty
Subscriber here.
These look so quick and easy they will be a pleasure to make. Thanks.
Jeanie McLaughlin
These look so good! I will try these for Christmas.
Lisa Hullett
They look festive and beautiful! Thanks for posting this one!
Tracey Hazelwood
Making my Christmas cookies tomorrow. 3 different cookies and fudge. Your last minute fudge. I’ll be sure to take a picture and post it for you. I’m an email subscriber.
kentville33@gmail.com
Margaret Caudill
These look great have to make them with the grandkids
Sylvia Anderson
OOps, I clicked my husbands name by mistake
Ann
I can’t believe how easy this is. Picking up a cake mix and some sprinkles tomorrow for some weekend baking. I am an email subscriber too!
Jamie Fiocca
I’m an email subscriber. Can’t wait to try out this recipe.
Debbie Rogers
So easy and Christmasy!….and I AM an email subscriber
Stanley Anderson
What fun and festive looking cookies Shawn. They look almost too pretty to eat, and would be the highlight of the Christmas Cookie platter. I am a subscriber and really enjoy your blog.
Kayla Clark
Cookies are not my forte because I always burn the last batch if not more due to the time. I have a daughter who likes to make cookies so I will pass this recipe on to her!!!
Thanks and I am a subscriber.
Debbie Rogers
So easy and Christmasy!
Judy Miller
I am a subscriber and I have never made cake mix cookies but I am going to this evening. Thanks for all your hard work for this blog.
Doria Moody
The cookies look delicious. My nephew’s would love them. Thanks for a new recipe.
Marcia Miller
You are one of my favorite bloggers! Your beautiful personality shines through. I have gotten many favorite recipes from you.
Lisa Nichols
Always love recipes that are inexpensive and easy to make. Thank you for sharing! Happy Holidays!
Lois Alice
Well, our household is in an uproar now that my daughter and grandson (and two dogs) are living with us after a house fire. This just may be the only way we will get Christmas cookies this year. I am an email subscriber.
karen rogers
Can’t wait to try these!! They look easy!
Anita Bates
I love your recipes! I can’t wait to try some of the variations. I am a subscriber
Melissa Macias-Duenas
I’m a subscriber, by the way.
Madison
I love your recipes! I am an email subscriber.
CATHERINE LEE
I love Christmas cookies, and making/sharing/gifting them. These are so pretty too. Won’t be making any this year unfortunately with so much going on and a tiny RV with no oven, boo! At least I can appreciate reading your blogs and drooling over the recipes, I subscribe and look forward to them all the time! Thank you!
Kay
Love your recipes! Yes I am a subscriber!
Kathy Belk
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your recipes! I am a subscriber and a true fan. I tell all my friends about your website and forward them the link. With every recipe I’ve made, I’ve received many compliments. All my friends and family think I am genius in the kitchen because of your tasty recipes! I can’t wait to make these Christmas cookies.
I appreciate the ease of making all of your recipes with simple ingredients that I usually have on hand and I enjoy getting the emails too as they always seem to be just what I am craving at the time! I also like the variations you provide in the blog or the substitution suggestions.
Thank you so much!
Karen Taylor
These cookies are pretty! I’m an email subsciber.
Carol O’Brien
I love cake mix cookies. The possibilities are endless. I must admit i never thought of rolling them in sprinkles before baking. Much easier than frosting and then using sprinkles. And so much quicker.
Thanks for sharing with this blog email subscriber. With so much going on during the holidays, anything to shorten kitchen duty is welcome.
Cathy
From a cake mix!?
Will be making this!
I am an email subscriber.
cathylwilson@rogers.com
Lori West
I love your recipes! I cannot wait to try these — I already have all of the ingredients. Even those beautiful sprinkles. Planning our first ever family cookie exchange and know this will be a great offering! Thank you!
SUZANNE
Shawn, thank you for all of your delicious recipes that you share. I’m a long time subscriber and look forward to each of your new posts. These cookies look very festive and I’m sure taste wonderful.
I plan on making a double batch and freezing them. Then, just before Christmas, I’ll bake them all up and share with my family, friends and neighbors.
Thanks again for your great blog.
Jane
the recipes are always so easy to follow and really delicious. My partner and daughter love cookies (I am more for savoury stuff!) and love it when I cook. I look forward to your recipes coming through on my email – they are way better than some of the stuff I get!!
Svetlana Poore
Love simple recipe recipes so, definitely trying these ones! Thank you so much!!