Easy Cake Mix Christmas Cookies Recipe

Easy cake mix Christmas cookies with a soft, chewy texture, buttery frosting, and festive sprinkles. Quick to prep and perfect for holiday baking.

I'm the type of person who likes making plenty of Christmas cookies, so all that prep can be tiring. I came up with a strategy where I get the same results for less effort, and thanks to these cake mix Christmas cookies, I'm able to add another flavor with less time for prep.

After years of Christmas baking marathons, I've figured out that using a boxed base for certain cookies isn't cheating, it's strategic. The trick is understanding what these mixes bring to the table. They're formulated with emulsifiers and leavening agents in specific ratios that create that soft, tender texture without you having to cream butter perfectly or measure multiple dry ingredients. That part is already done for you, and honestly, the results are just as good as starting from scratch. These cookies have that soft, cake-like texture with buttery sweetness throughout. The frosting on top is smooth and sweet, and the sprinkles add color and a slight crunch that makes them feel extra festive.

I make these when I'm baking multiple batches of different cookies and need something that doesn't require measuring out a ton of ingredients. The prep is maybe 15 minutes, which leaves me time and energy for the more complicated recipes.

The first time I made these during my big Christmas cookie baking marathon, I was skeptical that a boxed mix would actually work. But after seeing my kids grab cookie after cookie, I realized they tasted just as good as my from-scratch recipes but saved me so much time. My kids loved decorating them with extra toppings after I frosted them, and my neighbor who received a batch texted me asking for the recipe because she couldn't believe how soft and flavorful they were.

Now these are part of my regular Christmas cookie rotation alongside my Christmas rosemary shortbread cookies, and I can't wait to add this next to those. I love that I can make them without the exhaustion that comes with more complicated recipes.

Ingredients

Boxed white cake mix makes these cookies so quick and easy. It gives them that light, cake-like texture without needing a million ingredients, which cuts down on prep time. Make sure to use white cake mix specifically because it gives you that neutral, sweet base that works with everything else.

Cake batter extract is the secret to making these taste amazing. It adds this distinct, buttery, cake-like flavor that makes the cookies taste good without being too much. If you don't have cake batter extract, vanilla extract will do, but the flavor won't be as strong or unique.

White chocolate chips melt into these cookies and create this creamy texture that contrasts with the crisp edges. They add richness and sweetness that balances out the sprinkles and the cookie base.

The frosting takes these over the top. Powdered sugar and butter give it that perfect sweet, smooth texture, and cake batter extract in the frosting ties everything together so the whole cookie tastes like freshly baked cake. You can use vanilla extract if you want, but it won't have that same depth.

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

How to Make Cake Mix Christmas Cookies?

These cake mix Christmas cookies are a quick and festive treat that’s perfect for the holidays. With a soft, chewy texture and a buttery frosting, they’re easy to make and decorate with your favorite Christmas sprinkles.

Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cake mix, salt, and baking soda. This will make sure the dry ingredients are evenly distributed. Set the bowl aside while you work on the wet ingredients.

Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Once it’s well-mixed, add the egg, vanilla extract, and cake batter extract. Beat until fully combined.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed to prevent flour from flying out of the bowl. Stop mixing as soon as everything is combined. You want to avoid overmixing.

Add the Chocolate Chips and Sprinkles

Gently stir in the white chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles using a spatula or wooden spoon. This helps distribute them evenly throughout the dough without breaking the chips.

Chill the Dough

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Chilling the dough helps the cookies keep their shape and results in a chewy texture once baked.

Preheat the Oven

Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and make sure even baking.

Shape the Cookies

Scoop about 2.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Roll the dough into balls that are slightly taller than wide. This shape helps the cookies bake evenly, keeping them soft and chewy in the center.

Bake the Cookies

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are just lightly browned. You want the centers to remain soft, so be careful not to overbake.

Cool the Cookies

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This lets them firm up a little before transferring. After 5 minutes, use a spatula to move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Frosting

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting.

Frost the Cookies

Once the cookies are completely cooled, pipe the frosting onto each one. You can use a piping bag or a simple Ziploc bag with the tip cut off. After frosting, top each cookie with extra Christmas sprinkles for a festive touch.

Serve and Enjoy!

Your cake mix Christmas cookies are now ready to serve.

Make it Better

For a fun twist, try Grinch Cookies by adding green food coloring to the dough and topping them with heart-shaped sprinkles. If you're a fan of peppermint, swap the white chocolate chips for peppermint chips or crushed candy canes to make Peppermint Twist cookies.

For a more indulgent treat, create Sandwich Cookies by filling two cookies with frosting. You can also go for Dipped Cookies by dipping half of each cookie in white or dark chocolate and sprinkling them with festive sprinkles. Lastly, for a playful mix of holiday and birthday cheer, add rainbow sprinkles alongside the traditional Christmas ones to make a Birthday Cake Holiday Mashup.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want to keep them fresh longer, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. To prevent the frosting from smearing, place parchment paper between layers of cookies.