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Festive Cake Mix Cookies
Years back, I stumbled onto this sweet little hack in my own kitchen and it’s saved me tons of time every winter. You just need five ingredients for these cookies and they’re seriously quick to make. My grandkids always jump in to help and now we look forward to this tradition every year. They’re the MVP when you’ve got surprise company or need a treat for a cookie swap in a pinch.
Foolproof Cookie Fun
What I love most is that these cookies turn out cute without any fuss. You'll be shocked at how such an easy method makes cookies look so festive and bright. Those green and red candies just dress them up on any dessert table. I always get a kick seeing how much these treats light up everyone’s faces right out of the oven.
What to Grab at the Store
- M&M's Candies: Go for green and red for holiday vibes or sneak in some chocolate chips if you'd rather.
- Eggs: The glue that keeps our cookies in shape.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives your cookies a cozy boost.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps every bite extra soft.
- Cake Mix: Choose your favorite chocolate or Devil’s Food right from the shelf.
Cheery Baking Session
- Bake and Cool:
- Bake them for 9 to 11 minutes, then let them rest on the sheet a bit before moving to a cooling rack.
- Shape Cookies:
- Make small dough balls, about an inch, and space them out on a cookie tray with no grease needed.
- Fold in Candies:
- Blend in the M&Ms gently so every bite has a pop of color.
- Mix Dough:
- Toss your dry cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl and stir until it’s thick and ready to scoop.
- Preheat Oven:
- Fire up your oven to 350°F to get it good and hot.
Making Cookies Last
Stash these in any sealed container right on your counter and they're soft and tasty for up to 4 days. My grandma's trick is putting in a slice of bread to help keep 'em from getting hard. They'll hang out in your fridge for a full week. When I plan ahead I tuck dough or baked cookies in the freezer and pull them out within 3 months for a treat later.
Tips for Awesome Cookies
Don’t forget—just pour your cake mix in dry. Skip the cake box instructions. Make sure your cookie balls are the same size so they bake up even. Mix things up with pecans, toffee, crushed mints, chocolate pieces, or candy canes. We try something fun and different every holiday.
Recipe Q&A
- → Why don't you do what's on the cake mix box?
This way, we're making cookies not cake! Using different eggs and oil levels makes the dough stickier and more chewy, perfect for cookies.
- → Is any cake mix fine for this?
Yep, any chocolate cake mix will work. Devil's food makes the cocoa pop even more. Just check your box size is the same as the one listed.
- → How do they hold together with no extra flour?
The mix already has all the flour baked in. Just toss in eggs and oil to bring it together like cookie dough.
- → Can I prepare the dough early?
Sure, just cover it and pop in the fridge up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temp so it's not too tough for scooping.
- → Why do I need to wait before moving them?
Fresh out of the oven, they're super soft. Letting them rest for a bit on the pan helps them firm up enough so they won't fall apart.