Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies

This is our easy cake mix crinkle cookies recipe you can make for any occasion. With bright colors they’re great Christmas cookies that come out moist every time. A fun hack like our cake mix mug cake you can make with your kids.

Looking for some fun Christmas cookies to make this year that scream “it’s the holidays!” Well this crinkle cookie recipe is a boxed cake mix recipe to that’s perfect for any holiday. You can use any colors that fit the occasion, or make chocolate crinkle cookies too.

They’re fun right??!! Super moist too when they pop out of the oven, and stay that way for days after too. Red and green were used this time because it’s almost December but swap them out for red and blue for the 4th of July and they were be a hit at your party.

All you need is a box of your favorite flavor and color of cake mix and a few other ingredients. White works best if you are adding colors of course. Overall a really cheap dessert that will surely impress your guests.

Christmas Crinkle Cookies

If you’ve never made cookies made with cake mix they are really easy and turn out super soft. We will share a homemade version below too. Another reason I love using cake mix as a base for a variety of recipes is that it minimizes the amount of ingredients you need to have.

Unlike our homemade lemon crinkle cookies that has many items necessary you only need a few here. This makes it convenient in case you need a last minute holiday dessert you know you’ll have everything in the cupboard ready to whip together!

What is a crinkle cookie?

If you’ve never made these before you’ll know when your first batch comes out of the oven why they’re called this! These don’t come out smooth on the top like sugar cookies, rather the tops break up and look like they’re crinkled! The look is further exaggerated because of the powdered sugar you roll them in. 

I have made a variety of different colored crinkle cookies. I would have used Christmas colors but all I had on hand was yellow and blue this batch so that’s what I went with. With kids who knows where the others went this time. 😉

Can you make crinkle cookies with any flavor of cake mix?

Yes! You can use anything from white to lemon, red velvet or make chocolate crinkle cookies using devil’s food cake mix if you wanted a fast method! You will use the same directions as below no matter what flavor you choose. We have even used other boxes like our brownie crinkle cookies version too.

Ingredient Notes

We started with a box of Duncan Hines white cake mix, I think this is best but any flavor works really. If you wanted a certain flavor or color than by all means go with strawberry, lemon or otherwise.

Eggs added at room temperature are best to create a lighter texture. I prefer organic free range style for the best flavor.

You are going to use some Vegetable oil to make the batter, those are the basic 4 ingredients needed with the powder for the outside to get that classic cracked look.

Powdered sugar also known as confectioners sugar is what you use to sweeten this a bit further and give it that wow look.

Variations and Substitutions

Adding food coloring, colors will differ depending on the holiday you’re celebrating, or leave white. I like these Wilton gel colors for this because it won’t water down the batter at all. You can use a stand mixer, or use elbow grease. You want two bowls for wet and dry ingredients

I mean any flavored extract works but you just need a small dab. A little goes a long way with those. It is great though because you can make a few different types for your cookie exchange and not cost much at all.

Tips for Success

Combine your ingredients to make a thick dough texture. If you want to color the dough, incorporate enough now where it is the brilliance you love. For more than one color, separate the dough and color as desired.

Then you will want to refrigerate it for a few hours to stiffen up so you can easily roll them into equal sized balls. The bowl should be covered with saran wrap so it doesn’t dry out in the process.

You always want to preheat oven first so they bake at the same temperature from start to finish, if not they won’t be puffy and fluffy.

Once ready roll balls into a bowl of powdered sugar so the outside is nicely coated and can seep in as the cookies begin to rise in order to create this fun look. Lay on a baking sheet with space between them as they will spread to double their size.

How do you know when they are done?

First off, do not bake too long! With a small cookie scoop 8 minutes is plenty. Larger may take up to 10. To determine if it is time to take them out is to look at the edges, they should be firmed. In the center it should not look raw, but will be more underdone than the center (to stay chewy). Once removed allow to cool on the cookie sheet to stiffen up. For a crispy cookie you would want to add 2 minutes.

How do you keep homemade cookies fresh?

Let your homemade cookies cool completely . Transfer them into an airtight container or freezer bags free from air. Place sheets of parchment paper between the layers of cookies. This will ensure they don’t stick together when they’re chilled.

Put a piece of white bread in the cookie container to keep them fresh too. This is a cheap baking hack you should keep in your back pocket for storing cookies. Keep the cookie container at room temperature to stay as fresh and moist as possible.

Can you freeze crinkle cookies?

Before freezing you’ll want to measure and roll the cookie dough into balls. Then freeze them on a baking sheet. Once they’re frozen solid you can transfer them to an air tight container or freezer bag. Also like the baked cookies, the cookie dough can be frozen for up to three months.

Other easy cake mix recipes you’ll love

They’re just as easy as our fun Christmas tree sugar cookies.

• Brownies from cake mix are super simple to make with kids
• Cake mix donuts are fun and a quick treat or breakfast
• Pumpkin cookies with cake mix are great too.
• Cherry pineapple dump cake is a fun way to make a throw together cake