The only thing better than cookies is cookies made from a cake mix! It doesn’t get any easier or tastier than this dreamy birthday cake cookie recipe! We do have to warn you–these cookies tend to disappear rather quickly.
Remember that awesome birthday cake your mom used to make? The one with the confetti sprinkles in the batter? All. The. Feels.
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What if we told you you could take that same batter and whip up the most incredible batch of oh-so-fluffy and totally addictive cookies? Oh, and you only need three ingredients! Any day can be your birthday when you bake this tasty treat. (And we hear calories don’t count on your birthday!)
WHY MAKE COOKIES FROM CAKE MIX?
If you’ve never used a cake mix to bake cookies, you are in for a treat!
First, it’s so, so, SO, easy and takes no time at all. Second, it’s super affordable! Most of the time, you only need three or four ingredients, and you can spice up your recipes using things you have on hand.
Here are a few things to know about cake mix cookies.
- Consistency – Cake mix cookies are softer than many other traditional cookie recipes. We LOVE the consistency! All-purpose flour has more protein than cake mix does, thus the difference in texture. There’s your daily dose of trivia!
- Substitutions – The same concept applies to other boxed mixes. If you’ve got a box of brownie mix, you can sub that in for the cake mix to make some delectable chocolate cookies. You can also add a boxed pudding mix to all-purpose flour to give your cookies a chewier, softer texture.
- Other Cake Mix Concoctions – Boxed cake mix is pretty versatile. You can use it to make pancakes, muffins, and cookie bars, too!
Pro Tip: Out of vegetable oil? You can sub in coconut oil, canola oil, or olive oil. You can also use applesauce! Use a 1:1 ratio for any of these substitutions.
HOW TO MAKE THESE CAKE MIX COOKIES YOUR OWN
There is no wrong way to make cookies! Part of the magic of shelf cooking lies in the experimentation, so think outside of the (cake) box! Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your thinking.
- Add Sprinkles – Confetti cake cookies are just begging for sprinkles. Too much color? No such thing!
- Add Frosting – Vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry would all be yummy! You could even try this homemade whipped cream frosting to take this recipe up a notch.
- Bring Cookie Cutters – You don’t have to make all your cookies round! Wouldn’t these be fun in the shape of unicorns?!
- Toss in Some Chips – Not that kind of chips. (Although, if that floats your boat, who are we to judge?!) White chocolate chips are perfect for this recipe, but whatever you have in the pantry works, too.
- Mix in Some Fruit or Nuts – Maybe you’ve got Craisins to spare or leftover crushed walnuts? Try adding some in your cookie batter! Sneak in fruit however you can, right?!
If you're wondering how to store and reuse your cookies, wonder no more! You know we've got the deets you need.
HOW TO FREEZE & REHEAT COOKIES
You guys! If you've never made ahead a batch of cookies to freeze, you should do it. Here's how it all works.
After your cookies have cooled, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place the cookies on it, and slide the cookie sheet into your freezer. Keep the cookies in the freezer for one to two hours. We suggest checking on them at the one hour mark. When they're frozen, toss them in a freezer bag and store them for up to three weeks. Don’t forget to label the bag!
Ready to eat the cookies? Take them out of the freezer and let them thaw to room temperature on your kitchen counter. If you’re in a hurry, you can pop them into the oven at 350° for a few minutes, or you can microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Pro Tip: Word of warning–don’t try warming up decorated cookies in the microwave! Trust us, it will get messy.
HOW TO FREEZE THE COOKIE DOUGH
If you’re prepping for a party or special occasion, you may want to make your dough ahead of time and bake the cookies later. If so, you can totally do that! Here are a few options:
- Freeze Cookie Dough Balls – You can scoop the dough into balls, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, then pop them in the freezer for an hour. After they freeze, you drop the balls in a bag and let out all the air.
- Freeze Cookie Dough Logs – Roll all your cookie dough into one or two logs (depending on the size of your batch), then wrap tightly and thoroughly in plastic. This part is essential. We want to prevent that freezer burn!
- How to Thaw Frozen Cookie Dough – If you froze the dough in balls, there no need to thaw! Just let the dough sit on the counter while the oven preheats. They may just need to bake a little longer to make sure they're completely done. If you opted to freeze the dough in a log, pop the dough into your refrigerator a day or two before you plan to use it.
FYI: The frozen dough will last about three months! But good luck keeping it in there that long. 😉
HOW TO RE-USE YOUR COOKIES
If you have extra cookies you don't want to freeze, don't toss them! Let's have some fun with leftover cookies. Here's what you can make:
- Cookie Butter – If you've never had cookie butter, you are in for a treat. Don't buy the expensive stuff at the store. Check out this super simple recipe from Serious Eats.
- Pie Crust – You guys! This is one of the most incredible hacks ever. Crush up those cookies and make the best pie crust. So, so, so good. Did we mention it's good? Here's a super simple recipe from Bake or Break.
- Ice Cream Sundaes – Who doesn't love a good ice cream party?! Set up your toppings and let your kids have fun making their own sundaes. Cookie crumbs and cookie dough are both great options!
- Milkshakes – While we're on the topic of ice cream, let's talk milkshakes! Toss in some cookie chunks or some dough chunks, and you've got a restaurant copy-cat dessert for just pennies.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches – Do you think we like ice cream around here? Cookies and ice cream just go together like PB&J. Take two cookies and spread a bit of ice cream in between them, put them together like a sandwich, and you will not be disappointed. You can eat immediately or freeze for later. Betty Crocker has all the deets!
Now, go make all the cookies so you can try all the things! Just don't crash into a sugar coma. 😉
OUR FAVORITE BIRTHDAY CAKE MIX COOKIE RECIPE
Okay, let’s get to the goods! These cookies are perfect for a birthday party because they’re so simple to make in bulk. Just double or triple the recipe and you’re all set. That being said, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to whip out this recipe. After you make it once, we guarantee your family will ask for it again and again!
Easy Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box confetti cake mix
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Thoroughly combine cake mix, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl.
- Divide your dough into 12 equal portions and form into balls.
- Transfer to a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- After they've cooled, frost if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
We love how simple these are to throw together and you will too!
There you have it! SO many ways to turn boxed cake mix into magic. We hope you love these as much as we do. Drop us a comment below to let us know what you think!
Looking for more treats and snacks? You’ll love these!
- Ever tried sopapilla cheesecake? It will change. your. life.
- This easy peach cobbler is ah-mazing. For real. You'll thank us later.
- Give this fruit salad a try for a healthier, but just as delicious, after-dinner treat.
Happy snacking!