Quick and Festive Cake Mix Christmas Cookies

Bake festive and incredibly simple Christmas Cake Mix Cookies in minutes with just 4 essential ingredients! These delightful cookies are wonderfully soft, vibrantly colorful, and infused with the joyous spirit of the holiday season. They are truly perfect for sharing at gatherings, adding to cookie platters, or gifting to loved ones.

Embark on a delightful baking journey and infuse your home with the sweet aroma of the holidays using these exceptionally easy Christmas Cake Mix Cookies! Crafted from a basic cake mix, these cookies boast a melt-in-your-mouth softness, a cheerful burst of color from festive sprinkles, and a flavor that truly captures the magic of Christmas. They are the ultimate quick holiday treat, offering endless fun in making, decorating, and sharing priceless moments with family and friends.

Children especially adore the vibrant sprinkles, which make these cookies look absolutely gorgeous and irresistible. Beyond these easy cake mix delights, be sure to explore our extensive collection of Christmas desserts and delve into our inspiring 12 Days of Christmas Cookies series for even more festive ideas. If you’re looking for other charming holiday treats, you might also enjoy our Christmas No-Bake Cookies, classic Shortbread Christmas Cookies, and the visually appealing Christmas Wreath Cookies. And for those craving a festive cake, our Christmas Dump Cake Recipe offers a wonderfully simple and delicious option.

Why You’ll Adore These Easy Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

These Christmas Cake Mix Cookies aren’t just a treat; they’re a holiday lifesaver and a joy to bake! Here’s why they’ll become a staple in your festive repertoire:

• Unbelievably Quick and Easy: Forget complicated recipes and long ingredient lists. Starting with a basic cake mix means these cookies come together with minimal effort and in record time. This makes them absolutely perfect for those busy holiday schedules, impromptu gatherings, or when you need a last-minute festive dessert. Even beginner bakers will find success with this foolproof method.
• Irresistibly Soft and Tender: The beauty of using a cake mix is the inherently light, fluffy, and tender texture it lends to these cookies. Each bite offers a delightful melt-in-your-mouth experience that will have everyone reaching for another. They strike the perfect balance between chewiness and softness, a texture often hard to achieve with traditional cookie recipes.
• Wonderfully Festive and Fun: With their vibrant red and green Christmas sprinkles, these cookies instantly capture the festive spirit. They are visually appealing and add a cheerful pop of color to any holiday dessert spread. They’re not just delicious; they’re a celebration on a plate!
• A Fantastic Family-Friendly Activity: Baking these cookies is a wonderful way to create lasting holiday memories. They are simple enough for even young children to help with, from mixing the batter to rolling the dough in sprinkles. It’s a fantastic opportunity for quality family time in the kitchen.
• Perfect for Gifting and Sharing: Packaged in decorative boxes or bags, these colorful and delicious cookies make thoughtful homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, friends, or hostess gifts. They are also a huge hit at holiday cookie exchanges, guaranteed to impress with their festive look and delightful taste.

Simple Ingredients for Festive Cake Mix Cookies

One of the many charms of these Christmas Cake Mix Cookies is the minimal number of ingredients required. You likely already have most of these staples in your pantry, making them an accessible choice for any holiday baker. Here’s what you’ll need for these delightful festive cookies:

• White Cake Mix: This is your magical base! A standard box of white cake mix provides a neutral canvas, allowing the vibrant red and green Christmas sprinkles to truly pop and shine. Its pre-measured dry ingredients ensure a consistent, tender, and light cookie texture every time, removing the need for flour, sugar, baking powder, or salt.
• Eggs: Eggs are crucial for binding all the ingredients together, creating a cohesive dough. They also contribute significant moisture and richness, which helps achieve that desirable soft, tender, and slightly chewy cookie texture. Using large eggs is generally recommended for consistent results.
• Vegetable Oil: This fat source plays a vital role in keeping your cookies wonderfully moist and helping to develop that signature tender crumb. Unlike butter, which can sometimes make cookies spread more or become crispier, vegetable oil ensures a consistently soft and chewy outcome, even days after baking. Any neutral-flavored oil like canola or sunflower oil would also work.
• Red and Green Christmas Sprinkles: These are the stars of the show when it comes to visual appeal! Christmas-themed sprinkles in festive red and green hues instantly transform simple cookies into holiday masterpieces. They add not only a burst of color but also a subtle crunch and playful texture. Feel free to use jimmies, nonpareils, or a festive mix.

You’ll find the complete, detailed ingredient list with exact measurements in the comprehensive recipe card further down this page.

Creative Variations to Make Them Your Own

While the classic 4-ingredient Christmas Cake Mix Cookies are delightful on their own, don’t hesitate to get creative! These cookies are incredibly versatile and can be adapted with a few simple additions to suit your taste or theme. Here are some fun ways to customize your festive treats:

• Ice the Cookies for Extra Sweetness: For an additional layer of flavor and visual appeal, consider adding a simple icing. A basic glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, or a richer cream cheese frosting, can elevate these cookies. You can even tint the icing with food coloring (think green or red!) or add more sprinkles on top before it sets.
• Mix in Delicious Chocolate Chips: Introduce a richer dimension by folding in chocolate chips. White chocolate chips pair wonderfully with the neutral white cake mix base, creating a beautiful contrast. Milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips can also be used for a more decadent treat. Add about ½ to 1 cup to the dough.
• Experiment with Different Cake Mix Flavors: While white cake mix is a fantastic choice for vibrant sprinkles, feel free to try other cake mix flavors. Chocolate cake mix can create “Grinch” cookies with green sprinkles, a strawberry or red velvet mix would be stunning with white sprinkles, or a lemon mix for a brighter, zesty holiday twist. A funfetti cake mix could also add an extra layer of color!
• Switch Up the Sprinkles for Any Occasion: The beauty of sprinkle cookies is their adaptability. Beyond red and green Christmas sprinkles, you can use blue and silver for Hanukkah, pastel colors for Easter, rainbow sprinkles for birthdays, or even crushed peppermint candies for a minty Christmas twist. Edible glitter or sugar pearls can also add a touch of elegance.
• Create Festive Cookie Sandwiches: Take two cooled cookies and spread a generous layer of your favorite frosting or jam between them to create delightful cookie sandwiches. Cream cheese frosting or raspberry jam would be particularly festive fillings.
• Add Sparkling Sugar for a Glistening Effect: Before baking, roll the formed cookie dough balls in sparkling sugar (larger sugar crystals) instead of, or in addition to, sprinkles. This will give your cookies a beautiful, glistening finish that sparkles like freshly fallen snow.
• Boost the Flavor with Extracts: A teaspoon of almond extract, peppermint extract, or even a good quality vanilla bean paste can dramatically enhance the holiday flavor profile of your cookies. Add it along with the wet ingredients.
• Gluten-Free Option: To make these cookies suitable for everyone, simply substitute a good quality gluten-free white cake mix. The recipe steps remain the same, making it an easy way to accommodate dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or fun.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Cake Mix Christmas Cookies

Making these 4-ingredient Christmas Cake Mix Cookies is incredibly straightforward, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Follow these simple steps for a batch of soft, colorful, and festive treats.

• Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). While the oven heats, line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup after baking.

Step 2: Combine the Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of white cake mix, the two eggs, the vegetable oil, and ¼ cup of your festive Christmas sprinkles. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until a thick dough forms. You can achieve this using a sturdy spoon, a hand mixer, or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Don’t be alarmed if the batter appears quite thick; this is perfectly normal for cake mix cookies and contributes to their soft texture.

Step 3: Form and Decorate the Cookie Dough Balls. Use a cookie scoop (a 1.5-inch scoop works well) to portion out uniform cookie dough balls. This ensures even baking. Once scooped, gently roll each dough ball in the remaining Christmas sprinkles. Make sure to generously coat the entire surface of each cookie dough ball with sprinkles to achieve maximum festive flair!

Step 4: Arrange on Baking Sheets. Carefully place the sprinkle-coated cookie dough balls onto your prepared baking sheets. It’s important to leave adequate space between each cookie, approximately 2 inches, as they will spread slightly during baking. Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet to ensure even heat distribution and proper browning.

Step 5: Bake and Cool. Transfer the baking sheets to your preheated oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them. The cookies are done when their edges are just beginning to turn a very light golden brown. They should still appear soft in the center. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set. After this initial cooling, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy and helps them firm up.

Expert Tips for Perfect Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality results with these simple cake mix cookies is easier than you think! Incorporate these expert tips into your baking process to ensure your Christmas treats are perfectly soft, festive, and delicious every time:

• Utilize a Cookie Scoop for Uniformity: Investing in a good quality cookie scoop is a game-changer. Using a scoop ensures that all your cookie dough balls are precisely the same size. This not only makes them look professionally baked but, more importantly, guarantees that they bake evenly, preventing some from being overdone while others are underbaked.
• Cool Completely on a Wire Rack: Patience is a virtue in baking! After the initial few minutes on the hot baking sheet, always transfer your cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack allows air to circulate around the entire cookie, preventing the bottoms from becoming soggy due to residual heat and helping them achieve their final perfect texture.
• Always Line Your Baking Sheets: For effortless baking and even easier cleanup, always line your baking sheets. Parchment paper is an excellent choice as it prevents sticking and can often be reused for multiple batches. Silicone baking mats are another fantastic, eco-friendly alternative that offers superior non-stick properties.
• Generously Roll in Sprinkles: The sprinkles are key to the festive look of these Christmas cookies! Don’t be shy when rolling your cookie dough balls. Ensure each ball is thoroughly coated in sprinkles. This creates a beautiful, vibrant exterior that will make your cookies truly stand out on any holiday platter.
• Avoid the Pitfall of Overbaking: Cake mix cookies are meant to be soft and tender. To maintain this delicate texture, resist the urge to overbake them. Bake just until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers still look slightly set but not hard. They will continue to set as they cool. An overbaked cookie will be dry and crumbly.
• Ensure Even Spacing on Baking Sheets: As cookies bake, they tend to spread. To prevent your festive cookies from merging into one giant “cookie-cake,” leave ample space between each dough ball on the baking sheet—about 2 inches is ideal. This allows for proper air circulation and ensures each cookie bakes individually and maintains its shape.
• Proper Storage for Lasting Freshness: Once your cookies have cooled completely (this is important!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Proper storage is key to keeping them soft, fresh, and delicious for up to a week. You can also place a slice of bread in the container to help absorb excess moisture and keep them even softer.
• Room Temperature Ingredients for Best Results: While this recipe is forgiving, using room temperature eggs can lead to a smoother, more evenly mixed dough. Room temperature ingredients emulsify better, resulting in a more uniform and tender cookie.
• High-Quality Sprinkles Make a Difference: While any sprinkles will work, investing in good quality, fresh sprinkles can impact both the visual appeal and the texture. Fresh sprinkles tend to hold their color better and offer a more pleasant crunch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

Do you add sprinkles before baking?

Yes, for these particular Christmas Cake Mix Cookies, we absolutely add the sprinkles before baking! The method involves first forming the cookie dough into balls and then rolling them generously in the sprinkles. This ensures that the vibrant sprinkles adhere well to the dough and are embedded throughout the cookie’s exterior as it bakes, creating that beautiful, festive coating. If you were to add them after baking, they wouldn’t stick as effectively and could easily fall off.

How do you get the sprinkles to stick?

The trick to getting the sprinkles to stick perfectly is the rolling method. After you’ve portioned your cake mix batter into individual cookie dough balls using a scoop, simply roll each ball firmly into a bowl of sprinkles. The slightly sticky surface of the dough will act as a natural adhesive. Make sure to generously coat the entire surface of the cookie dough ball, pressing lightly if needed, to ensure maximum coverage and a truly festive appearance.

How to store the cookies?

Once your Christmas Cake Mix Cookies have cooled completely to room temperature, they should be stored in an airtight container. This helps to maintain their soft and tender texture and prevents them from drying out. When stored properly at room temperature, these delicious cookies will remain fresh and enjoyable for about a week. For longer freshness, you can add a slice of plain bread into the container; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them softer.

How to freeze the cookies?

Freezing these cookies is an excellent way to prepare ahead for the holidays or to enjoy them long after the season ends. First, ensure that the baked cookies have cooled completely. Then, arrange the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and place the entire sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until the cookies are firm. This “flash freezing” step prevents them from sticking together. Once individually frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight freezer container. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Freezing them individually allows you to easily grab just a few at a time without needing to defrost a whole batch. To enjoy, simply defrost them at room temperature for an hour or two, and they’ll be ready to serve! This is perfect for pulling out a few after dinner for an impromptu dessert.

Explore More Easy Cake Mix Cookies

If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of these Christmas Cake Mix Cookies, you’re in luck! The world of cake mix cookies is vast and incredibly easy to explore. Here are some other fantastic cake mix cookie recipes that you’re sure to enjoy, perfect for any occasion:

• Classic Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies: A timeless favorite made even easier with a cake mix base.
• Decadent Red Velvet Cookies Recipe: Rich, vibrant, and perfect for special occasions.
• Indulgent Double Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies: A chocolate lover’s dream, packed with extra cocoa flavor.
• Cream Cheese Cake Mix Cookies: Adds a delightful tang and extra softness to your cookies.
• Sweet Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies: Fruity and fun, perfect for spring or summer gatherings.

Discover More Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

The holiday season calls for a diverse array of festive treats! If you’re looking to expand your Christmas cookie repertoire beyond cake mix cookies, these easy recipes are guaranteed to spread cheer and delight. From classic holiday flavors to fun, kid-friendly designs, there’s something here for everyone:

• Whimsical Christmas Pinwheel Cookies Recipe: Visually stunning cookies with a delightful swirl.
• Colorful M&M Christmas Cookies: A simple, cheerful, and popular choice, especially with kids.
• Easy Grinch Cookies Recipe: Fun, green, and perfect for a holiday movie night.
• Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies: The quintessential taste of Christmas in a tender cookie.
• Adorable Reindeer Cookies: A charming and playful cookie that’s as fun to decorate as it is to eat.
• Classic Candy Cane Cookies: Minty and festive, shaped just like a candy cane.

We encourage you to make these easy and delicious Christmas Cake Mix Cookies today and share the joy! Once you’ve tried them, please consider leaving a comment and a star review rating. We truly love to hear from you and value your feedback!

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Cake Mix Christmas Cookies

Average Rating: 4.80 from 74 votes

These Christmas cake mix cookies offer an incredibly easy and festive treat using only 4 ingredients. They are delightfully light and fluffy, making them the perfect dessert for your holiday celebrations.

Prep Time
10 mins

Cook Time
10 mins

Cool Time
5 mins

Total Time
25 mins

Servings
24 cookies

Cuisine
American

Course
Dessert

Calories
138 kcal

Author
Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

• 1 standard box white cake mix
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup Red and Green Christmas Sprinkles (divided)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and ¼ cup of the Christmas sprinkles. Mix well until a thick, uniform dough forms. A stand mixer or hand mixer can make this easier.
3. Using a cookie scoop (about 1.5 inches), scoop out portions of dough. Roll each cookie dough ball generously in the remaining sprinkles until fully coated.
4. Place the coated cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are very lightly golden brown. The centers should still appear soft.
6. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for approximately 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Serve warm and enjoy your festive Christmas Cake Mix Cookies!

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories:

138 kcal

Carbohydrates:

19 g

Protein:

2 g

Fat:

7 g

Saturated Fat:

1 g

Cholesterol:

14 mg

Sodium:

154 mg

Potassium:

64 mg

Fiber:

1 g

Sugar:

13 g

Vitamin A:

20 IU

Calcium:

29 mg

Iron:

1 mg

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