Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

You know those days when you need festive cookies fast but don't want to sacrifice that homemade taste? That's exactly where these Christmas Cake Mix Cookies come in.

Last December, I was in full holiday panic mode. Amy's class party was the next day, and I'd completely forgotten I signed up to bring treats. John was working late, Bradley was complaining about needing new soccer cleats, and I was staring at my pantry at 8 PM wondering how I'd pull this off. That's when I spotted a box of white cake mix tucked behind the oatmeal.

What happened next honestly felt like a Christmas miracle. Within 25 minutes, I had three dozen beautiful, festive cookies cooling on my counter. Amy decorated them with extra sprinkles (of course), and the next day her teacher actually asked for the recipe. These cookies saved me that night, and they've been my go-to easy Christmas cookie ever since.

The best part? They taste nothing like they came from a shortcut. They're soft, fluffy, and loaded with red and green M&Ms and white chocolate chips. Nobody at Amy's party guessed they started with a cake mix, and honestly, that's exactly how I like it. If you're looking for another quick holiday treat, my Rice Krispie Treats are always a hit too.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Festive Cake Mix Cookies
• Ingredients for Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
• How to Make the Best Christmas Cookies with Cake Mix
• Storage and Keeping Your Cookies Fresh
• Tips for Perfect Cake Mix Cookies Every Time
• Creative Ways to Customize Your Holiday Cookies
• Questions About Making Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
• Recipes You May Like
• Make These Easy Holiday Cookies This Season
• Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

Why You'll Love These Festive Cake Mix Cookies

Just 4 main ingredients – White cake mix, eggs, clear soda, and your festive mix-ins. That's it.

Ready in 25 minutes – From mixing bowl to cooling rack, you're done before most cookie recipes even finish their first batch.

Light and fluffy texture – The carbonation from the soda creates the softest, most tender cookies that practically melt in your mouth.

Perfect for cookie exchanges – They look impressive and festive, but you'll know how ridiculously simple they were to make.

Kid-friendly baking – Amy has been helping me make these since she was six. The simple steps make it perfect for little helpers.

Customizable colors – Add food coloring to match any holiday or theme, or keep them white and let the M&Ms do the talking.

Ingredients for Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

Here's what you'll need to make these easy holiday cookies:

• 15.25 ounce box of white cake mix – Don't add the ingredients listed on the box; we're using the mix as is. White cake mix gives you that perfect blank canvas for Christmas colors.

• 2 large eggs – These help bind everything together and add structure to your cookies.

• ⅓ cup clear soda – Sprite, 7UP, ginger ale, or club soda all work great. The carbonation is what makes these cookies so light and fluffy, so make sure your soda is fresh and fizzy.

• ¾ cup red and green M&Ms – These are what make the cookies look so festive. I usually grab the holiday M&M bags in December.

• ½ cup white chocolate chips – They add sweetness and look beautiful against the colored M&Ms.

• Optional garnishes – Christmas sprinkles for the tops, or a few drops of red or green food coloring in the batter if you want even more color.

How to Make the Best Christmas Cookies with Cake Mix

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Trust me on the parchment paper – these cookies stick to bare pans until they cool completely, and I learned that the hard way my first time making them.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and clear soda. If you want to add a few drops of red or green food coloring to the batter, this is the time to do it. Stir everything together well until you have a smooth, thick batter with no dry pockets of cake mix.

3. Gently fold in the red and green M&Ms and white chocolate chips. I like to save a few extra M&Ms to press into the tops of the cookies before baking – it makes them look even more festive.

4. Use a 2-inch cookie scoop to portion out the dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie because they'll spread a bit as they bake. If you want to add sprinkles on top, now's the time to do it.

5. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You're looking for the centers to set and the edges to just barely start turning golden brown. Don't overbake these – they'll firm up as they cool, and you want them to stay soft.

6. Let the cookies cool on the pan for about 10 minutes before trying to move them. They'll be quite soft when they first come out of the oven, but they'll firm up perfectly as they cool. Once they release easily from the parchment paper, transfer them to a serving plate.

Storage and Keeping Your Cookies Fresh

Countertop storage: Keep these Christmas cake mix cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They actually stay incredibly soft because of the way the cake mix base works. I usually stack them with wax paper between the layers to prevent sticking.

Freezing for later: These freeze beautifully for 2-3 months. Let them cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty Ziploc bag. When you're ready to serve them, just let them thaw at room temperature for about an hour. Bradley has been known to eat them straight from the freezer as a frozen treat, which honestly isn't bad either.

Make-ahead tip: While you can't make the dough ahead of time (the carbonation is key), you can definitely bake these a day or two before you need them. They stay fresh and soft in an airtight container, which makes party prep so much easier.

Tips for Perfect Cake Mix Cookies Every Time

Use fresh soda: The carbonation is what creates that light, fluffy texture I keep raving about. If you've got a flat bottle of soda that's been sitting in your fridge for two weeks, this isn't the time to use it. Crack open a fresh can or bottle.

Don't let the dough sit: This is really important. Once you mix the soda into the cake mix, those bubbles start working their magic right away. If you let the dough sit for more than a few minutes, you'll lose that lift and end up with dense cookies instead of fluffy ones.

Parchment paper is essential: I mentioned this earlier, but it's worth repeating. These cookies will absolutely stick to a bare baking sheet until they cool. Parchment paper makes cleanup easy and prevents a messy situation.

Size matters for even baking: Using a cookie scoop helps ensure all your cookies are the same size, which means they'll all bake evenly. My 2-inch scoop makes perfect cookies that are big enough to feel substantial but not so huge they don't bake through properly.

Watch them closely: Because these bake so quickly, it's easy to overbake them if you're not paying attention. Set a timer for 8 minutes and check them. They might need another minute or two, but you'd rather underbake slightly than overbake.

Cool before moving: I know it's tempting to try to transfer them right away, but resist that urge. They need a full 10 minutes on the pan to set up properly. Amy learned this lesson when she tried to move one too early and it basically fell apart in her hands.

Creative Ways to Customize Your Holiday Cookies

Try different mix-ins: While I love the classic red and green M&Ms, you could use chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or even crushed candy canes for a peppermint version.

Color the dough: A few drops of food coloring can turn these into red cookies or green cookies. Bradley thinks the green ones look like something the Grinch would eat, which he means as a compliment.

Switch up the cake mix flavor: Yellow cake mix works just as well as white, or you could try funfetti cake mix for built-in sprinkles. I haven't tried chocolate cake mix yet, but I bet it would be delicious with red and white M&Ms.

Make them themed: These aren't just for Christmas. Use different colored M&Ms and you've got cookies for Valentine's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, or any other holiday.

Add a drizzle: Once they're cooled, drizzle melted white chocolate or dark chocolate over the tops for an extra fancy look.

Questions About Making Christmas Cake Mix Cookies

Recipes You May Like

• Grinch Cookies – Another fun and festive Christmas cookie that the kids absolutely love making
• Christmas Snowball Cookies – Classic buttery cookies rolled in powdered sugar that melt in your mouth
• Sugar Cookie Truffles – Easy no-bake treats that are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges

Make These Easy Holiday Cookies This Season

These Christmas cake mix cookies have honestly become one of my most-requested recipes during the holidays. They're so simple that even on the busiest December days, I can whip up a batch while helping Amy with homework and making dinner.

The combination of fluffy texture, festive colors, and genuine homemade taste makes them perfect for everything from classroom parties to cookie exchanges to last-minute gift plates for neighbors.

Give these a try this holiday season and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear if your family loves them as much as mine does. And if you make them with your kids, I want to hear all about it!

Save this recipe on Pinterest so you can find it again when December rolls around and you need cookies fast.

Happy baking, and here's to stress-free holiday treats that actually taste amazing!

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