Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
Cake mix crinkle cookies come together with just six ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep - no creaming butter, no chilling overnight, no complicated steps. The secret is Cool Whip in the dough, which gives these cookies an incredibly soft, chewy texture with those signature crinkled powdered sugar tops. Use any cake mix flavor and any food coloring to match whatever occasion you're baking for.
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What Do I Need to Make Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies?
You're going to love the short list of ingredients in this quick and easy recipe! That's right - you only need six ingredients to make a batch of colorful cookies perfect for any holiday or occasion. To make these crinkle cookies, you'll need:
- White cake mix
- Egg
- Whipped topping
- Vanilla extract
- Gel Food coloring
- Powdered sugar
Food Coloring Tips for Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
When it comes to food coloring for these cookies, I always reach for gel food coloring over liquid drops. Gel gives you a much more vibrant, saturated color without adding extra liquid to the dough - which matters here because the dough is already soft from the Cool Whip. Liquid food coloring can make the dough stickier and harder to work with, and the color comes out duller. A tiny amount of gel goes a long way. For colors by occasion - red and green for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween, pastels for Easter and spring, red and pink for Valentine's Day, red white and blue for the Fourth of July - these cookies are genuinely one of the most versatile recipes in your holiday baking rotation.
How Do I Make Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies?
Using cake mix to make a batch of cookies is one of the best ways to speed up the baking process. Just follow these three easy steps to make these colorful cookies for your next get-together.
Step One: Mix the Cookie Dough
Before you start baking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, combine the cake mix, egg, whipped topping, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat until well combined and a thick dough forms.
Step Two: Add the Food Coloring
Divide the dough into bowls according to the number of colors you'll be using. Add food coloring to each bowl and stir to mix. Start with a small amount of food coloring and add more, as needed, until your desired shade is reached.
Step Three: Bake the Cookies
Scoop the dough into one inch balls and roll it in powdered sugar until the dough ball is fully coated. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Cake Mix Crinkle Cookie Baking Tips
These cookies couldn't be simpler to make! And with the help of these baking tips, you'll be able to prepare these quick and easy treats in no time.
- Chill the dough. If you find that the dough is too sticky to work with, try placing it in the refrigerator to chill for 15 to 20 minutes. Chilling the dough will also create a thicker, puffier cookie.
- Add extract for flavor. Add unique flavors to your crinkle cookies with the help of extracts. Replace the vanilla with lemon, almond, or peppermint extracts to easily change up the flavor of your treats.
- Use different cake mix flavors. Another simple swap you can make to change up the flavor of your cookies is to use different cake mix varieties. You can use any flavor cake mix for this recipe, as long as you use a 15.25 ounce package of mix. Keep in mind that food coloring won't work with cake mixes like chocolate or strawberry, so those types of flavors aren't recommended if you want your cookies to be colorful.
- Don't overbake the cookies. Make sure to remove the cookies from the oven before they're fully baked to ensure they're nice and chewy. The edges should be golden brown but the center of the cookies will still be slightly soft. The cookies will continue to cook and flatten as they cool on the pan!
- Add more flour, if needed. While most cake mix brands should work for this recipe, ingredients vary from box to box. If your dough seems too sticky to work with, you may need to add more flour to the bowl. Stir in ¼ to ½ cup of extra flour until the dough becomes easier to work with.
If you love this recipe, give my Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe a try!
What Can I Add to Cake Mix Cookies?
These simple cookies are delicious as-is. But that doesn't mean you can't add even more flavor to each bite with the help of mix-ins. Try adding these ingredients to your cookie dough to take the flavor to the next level.
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped nuts
- M&Ms
- Toffee bits
- Peanut butter chips
- Mint chips
- Raisins or dried cranberries
How to Store Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
Be sure to allow your cookies to cool completely. After that, you can transfer them to an airtight container for storage. Keep the cookies in a cool, dry place at room temperature and they'll stay good for up to one week.
You can also freeze your prepared cookies without the powdered sugar coating. Once the cookies have cooled completely, arrange them on a baking sheet and allow them to freeze. After the cookies are frozen solid, you can transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer safe container. They'll stay good for up to two months in the freezer. Allow the cookies to thaw at room temperature before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any flavor of cake mix for crinkle cookies?
Why is my cake mix cookie dough so sticky?
Cake mix crinkle cookie dough is naturally stickier than traditional cookie dough because it uses Cool Whip instead of butter. If it's too sticky to roll, refrigerate the dough for 15 to 20 minutes before scooping. Chilling firms it up quickly and also makes the cookies slightly thicker and puffier.
Do cake mix crinkle cookies flatten out?
Can I make cake mix crinkle cookies without Cool Whip?
How do I keep the powdered sugar coating from dissolving?
Looking for a fruit-forward summer dessert to pair with these cookies? Try our fresh Rainier cherry crumble - it's the perfect way to use peak-season cherries.
Cake Mix Crinkle Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix 15.25 oz
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whipped topping like Cool Whip
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- gel food coloring seasonal colors, if desired
- ½ cup powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix cake mix, egg, whipped topping, and vanilla until well combined.
- Divide dough into bowls and tint each with desired food coloring.
- Chill dough for 15-20 minutes if it's too sticky.
- Scoop dough into 1-inch balls and roll generously in powdered sugar.
- Place on baking sheet spaced apart and bake for 9-11 minutes.
- Let cookies cool on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- For a puffier cookie, refrigerate the dough longer before baking.
- You can use different extracts (like almond or lemon) for flavor twists.
- Cookies will flatten slightly while cooling-don't overbake!
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