These Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are a festive, quick treat that is perfect for a holiday party, as a gift for neighbors, or to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
This is a recipe I love to make with my kids because they can do most of the work and it’s a fun way to spend time together.
Who can pass up a good Christmas cookie? Especially one that screams red and green! You won’t want to pass this Cake Mix Christmas Cookie by, and not only because it looks and tastes great, but because with only five ingredients, it may be the easiest cookie to make.
You’ll wow your neighbors, your kids, or whoever you share these delicious Christmas cookies with while keeping things easy and simple for yourself.
What are cake mix cookies?
These Christmas Cookies are a cake mix cookie. That simply means that we use a cake mix to make our dough, rather than a “from scratch” approach. It makes for a quick recipe that is just as delicious. You can use any type of box cake mix, including white cake mix, yellow cake mix, red velvet cake mix cookies, and french vanilla cake mix. This is one of our favorite recipes to make when we need an easy cookie recipe! Just pick your favorite cake mix flavor and this recipe will work! You can even make chocolate crinkle cookies or strawberry cookies.
Keep a chocolate cake mix in your pantry, some mini M&Ms (Christmas colors or not!) in the freezer, and you’ll always have what you need to make this yummy treat. You can also mix in white chocolate chips, Valentine’s Day sprinkles, green sprinkles, peanut butter chips, powdered sugar, milk chocolate chips, or peanut butter cups. The options are endless! These are the softest cookies and a personal favorite. You can store them in an airtight container as well.
These are such easy cookies with simple ingredients – everyone at your holiday parties will love them! You can even make them with gluten-free cake mix if you or your guests have dietary restrictions. You can really make these cookies with a lot of different cake mixes for each holiday season, so be sure to try them all!
How to make Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
In a large bowl, mix together dry box of cake mix (don’t prepare it as called for on the back of the box), vegetable oil, and eggs. The dough will be very thick.Fold in the M and M candies.
You can use normal sized M and M’s or mini M and M’s. Either one will work just fine.
Roll the dough into 1″ balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. If they are a little bit sticky, you can spray your hands with non stick cooking spray.
I like to add a few more M and M’s on top of the cookie after I roll them out so they will look GOOD! You can use parchment paper if you would like.
Bake for 9-11 minutes and remove from oven. Let cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Related recipe: These Andes Mint Cookies are a holiday favorite! Get the recipe HERE!
Tips for making cake mix cookies
When making these Cake Mix Christmas Cookies, or any cake mix cookie, do not prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. The dry cake mix is added to this recipe to form a thick dough.
Roll them into small, even balls. That way they will all cook evenly and some won’t burn while others are still doughy.
Looking for more EASY Christmas Cookies?! Try these 50 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients!
WHAT ARE SOME EASY CHANGE UPS FOR THIS RECIPE?
Although we love the festive look of the red and green M&M candies in these Cake Mix Christmas Cookies, you can always mix in something extra or substitute the mix-ins to your tastes. Here are some ideas:
- Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Squares (chopped up)
- Chocolate chips
- Chocolate toffee bits
- Crushed candy cane
- Chopped pecans
We also want to let you know about another favorite cookie recipe. Be sure to try our Peanut Butter Cookie Cups. So easy to make and delicious!
Have you heard about our newest cookbook,Copycat Cooking? We took over 100 of our favorite restaurant recipes and simplified them so that you can make them right at home!
Every recipe has a beautiful mouth-watering photo and has been picky-eater approved. The directions are simple, easy to follow, and do not require any strange ingredients.
Thiscookbookincludes copycat recipes from Wingers, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Panera, Cheesecake Factory, Kneaders, and so much more. We have you covered from drinks, to dessert and everything in-between.
SIX SISTERS’ STUFF COPYCAT COOKING<—–CLICK HERE TO ORDER!
Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!
Liked these Cake Mix Christmas Cookies? Here are a few more we love:
- Andes Mint Grinch Cookies
- Christmas Santa Cookies
- Chocolate Reindeer Cookies
- Almond Joy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Frosted Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies
- Peppermint Snowball Cookies
- Soft Vanilla Cookies
- Cornflake Christmas Wreath Cookies Recipe
- Grandma’s Thumbprint Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Serves: 24
Cake Mix Christmas Cookies Recipe
These Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are a festive, quick treat that is perfect for a holiday party, as a gift for neighbors, or to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
PrintPin
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) chocolate cake mix (you could also use Devil's Food)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup M&M's candies (can also use chocolate chips)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together dry cake mix (don't prepare it as called for on the back of the box), vegetable oil, vanilla, and eggs. The dough will be very thick.
Fold in the M and M candies.
Roll the dough into 1" balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 9-11 minutes and remove from oven. Let cookies cool for 2-3 minutes on the cookie sheet, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Although we love the festive look of the red and green M&M candies in these Cake Mix Christmas Cookies, you can always mix in something extra or substitute the mix-ins to your tastes. Here are some ideas:
- Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Squares(chopped up)
- Chocolate chips
- Chocolate toffee bits
- Crushed candy cane
- Chopped pecans
Nutrition
Calories: 154 kcal · Carbohydrates: 19 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 8 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 17 mg · Sodium: 160 mg · Potassium: 65 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 42 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 39 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Equipment
Large Mixing Bowl
Baking Sheet
Wire Rack
Recipe Details
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff onInstagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube
Join The Discussion
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
-
Crystal says:
How many cookies does this recipe yield?
-
Cyd says:
This recipe makes about 24-30 cookies.
-
Ilona says:
Do these freeze well?
-
Cyd says:
These cookies freeze great in a freezer container or airtight container.
-
Cyd says:
These cookies freeze really well in a freezer container.
-
Ed. clk. says:
what do you do with vanilla fla.?
-
Cyd says:
Thanks for catching that. We added vanilla into the directions.
-
Casie says:
Could I use a white cake mix instead of chocolate?
-
Cyd says:
Sure, it should work fine with a white cake mix, just a different flavor.
-
FdO says:
Could you also use brownie mix for this recipe? I would like to try this this Christmas, and I only have brownie mix. Christmas is pretty soon.
-
Anomynous says:
How long should it take to get an answer to a question, please? No offense. I really love this website's recipes for baking, especially now at Christmas.These cookies look yummy supreme!!! You have the best stuff!!Thanks!
-
Mira says:
Pinned! :)So doing this Christmas Eve, and that's tomorrow! Bummed I don't have M&Ms. Chocolate Chips and Powdered Sugar will be great though. I love powdered sugar on Christmas stuff for that snowy effect (there is no snow where I live)!
-
Mira says:
Made it almost the way I said I would. Great! Milk Chocolate Chips abounded. Powdered Sugar overflowed. And I added some Mint Jelly into the middle. Came out huge. I'll give some away to my family this Christmas. It'll be awesome! Thanks for the recipe, even though I changed it a bit. I'll might even do it again. -Mira
-
Tammie says:
Can you use butter instead of olive oil?
-
Momma Cyd says:
We've got other cake mix cookies and they use butter or shortening in place of the olive oil. So it should work fine. You could make them similar to these 2 recipes - https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/cake-mix-grasshopper-sandwich-cookies-recipe/https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/snickerdoodle-cake-mix-cookies/
-
Shawna says:
It says olive oil in the ingredients list, but vegetable oil in the instructions. Which one do you use/prefer? Thanks! :)
-
Momma Cyd says:
Sorry about that, it's vegetable oil.
About The Author:
Camille Beckstrand
Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Banana Split Cupcakes
57 minutes mins
No Bake Holiday Peanut Butter Balls
40 minutes mins
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies Recipe
18 minutes mins
Baked Saltine Cracker Chicken Recipe
40 minutes mins
Readers’ Favorite Recipes
Easy Baked Crack Chicken Recipe
30 minutes mins
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
40 minutes mins
Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
20 minutes mins
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake {4 Ingredients} Recipe
50 minutes mins
Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe
55 minutes mins
