Cake Mix Cookies (Only 3 Ingredients!)

Cake Mix Cookies are an easy cookie recipe that you can make with all kinds of cake flavors and add-ins! Mix chocolate chips, M&Ms, sprinkles, peanut butter chips, and more into your favorite cake mixes. Get creative!

The Easiest Cake Mix Cookies

You know I love an easy cookie recipe, and that’s just what we have here with these cake mix cookies! Using cake mix as a short cut ingredient may feel like cheating when it comes to baking, but it’s a trick I am fully on board with. It makes life so simple, and the cookies come out unbelievably soft, tender, and chewy.

Oh, and did I mention you only need 3 ingredients? That’s it! All you gotta do is mix the dough together, spoon it onto a cookie tray, and bake. Couldn’t be easier.

And, while I don’t use cake mix all the time, it definitely comes in handy when I need a dessert in a hurry! Plus, it makes switching up the flavor of the cookie you’re baking a breeze. Craving chocolate? Easy! But if you’d rather vanilla or red velvet, you can do those, too. The possibilities are endless!

Some of my other all-time favorite cake mix desserts include these Cake Mix Brownies and these Birthday Cake Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Why You’ll Love This Cake Mix Cookie Recipe

The list of reasons to love these cake mix cookies is extensive, but I’ll narrow it down to the most important ones… because we’ve got cookies to bake!

• Tender and chewy. It’s like biting into a soft cloud of sugary goodness! The texture is perfect.
• Easy. As mentioned above, these cookies require just 3 ingredients. So, if you’ve got a box of cake mix sitting on your shelf, you’ve probably got everything you need to get started!
• Adaptable. You can customize almost every aspect of these cookies! The cake flavor, what you mix in, how much you mix in, etc.

What You’ll Need

Let’s talk about these 3 simple ingredients! Here’s what you need to know (the exact quantities for each one can be found in the recipe card below):

• Cake Mix. I like vanilla cake mix best in these cookies, so that’s what I usually go with!
• Eggs. Use large eggs for this recipe.
• Oil. I use vegetable oil, however, any light colored oil will work, such as canola oil or corn oil.

How to Make Cookies from Cake Mix

When I don’t feel like breaking out the measuring cups, these cookies made with cake mix are the answer! Follow this step-by-step guide to get them in and out of the oven. The full set of directions can be found in the recipe card below!

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
• Mix the ingredients together. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs, and oil until smooth. You can also complete this step in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mixing the ingredients on low until combined.
• Pour in the add-ins. Mix in your desired add-ins until they are evenly incorporated.
• Bake the cookies. Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. Bake them for 9-10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden at the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Tips for Success

Even though making cookies from cake mix is very simple, there are still a few tips that are helpful to know as you begin!

• If you can only find 15-ounce cake mix. I have found that they seem to be phasing out the old 18-ounce cake mixes and only sell 15-ounce mixes now. To work around this, I add 1/4 cup extra of all purpose flour to the mix. I will be honest and say that you can absolutely just use the 15-ounce in place of the 18 without any variation, and the cookies will be only slightly thinner. Cake mix is very forgiving!
• Don’t over-bake the cookies. If you can see that the cookies are still soft in the middle at the end of the baking time even though the edges are golden brown, still take them out. They’ll finish firming up as they cool on the baking sheet.
• Different mixes can lead to slightly different textures. Keep in mind that differently flavored mixes (vanilla vs chocolate, etc.) can lead to thicker cookies, or cookies that spread a little more, depending on what kind you choose.

Mix-In Ideas

Keep these chewy cookies simple and leave them plain, or go crazy with add-ins… it’s totally up to you! Here are some of my go-to options:

• Chocolate Chips
• M&M’s
• White Chips
• Reese’s Pieces
• Chopped Candy Bars
• Sprinkles
• Peanut Butter Chips

Substitutions & Recipe Variations

Feel free to use your imagination with these cookies! There are so many flavor combos that could be great. Here are some cake mix and add-in pairings to inspire you:

• Red Velvet + White Chips
• Chocolate Cake + Peanut Butter Chips
• Carrot Cake + White Chips
• Spice Cake + Cinnamon Chips
• Vanilla Cake + Fruity Pebbles
• Lemon Cake + White Chips
• Strawberry Cake + Mini Chocolate Chips
• Chocolate Cake + Rolo Candies

How to Store

These cake mix cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days. If you want them to keep for a few days longer, try storing them in the fridge.

Can I Freeze Cake Mix Cookies?

Sure! Go ahead and freeze these cookies in an airtight container or a tightly-sealed ziplock bag for 2-3 months once they’ve cooled. Thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature before enjoying!

More Cake Mix Cookie Recipes

Can’t get enough when it comes to chewy cake mix cookies? Try some more easy recipes, then!

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