Cake Mix Cookies (how to bake 100 varieties!)

What is better than a big, round cookie, fresh from the bakery?  Buying them regularly, though, or trying to treat a crowd, can really drain your wallet. 

The fact is that you can turn out a dozen large, classic cookies, fresh from your own oven, for 90% less money than they would cost at the bakery.  The secret?  Cake mix!

There are as many articles on cake mix cookies as there are ways of making this amazing recipe.  It’s not a new concept, but let’s consider exactly how much money you can save with 100 delectable varieties.  In addition, I also offer some dressed-up cookie concepts you won’t want to miss.

Table of Contents

• Description of a Cake Mix Cookie
• How Much Money Can I Save Baking Cake Mix Cookies Vs. Buying Bakery Cookies?
• How Do You Make Cookie Dough Out of Cake Mix?
• What Can I Do with a Box of Cake Mix?
• Is Cookie Mix the Same as Cake Mix?
• Can You Substitute Butter for Oil in Cake Mix Cookies?
• What Size Package of Cake Mix Should I Use?
• How to Make Over 80 More Kinds of Cake Mix Cookies
• Resources for Further Exploration 

Description of a Cake Mix Cookie

People are always surprised to learn that you can make cookies from a cake mix; but they are even more surprised when they experience them. I don’t just mean the flavor – The shiny,  crackly, uniform appearance, the crunchy outside and the tender inside, and the pleasant flavor will delight you. 

How Much Money Can I Save Baking Cake Mix Cookies Vs. Buying Bakery Cookies?

Considering that a bakery cookie costs about $1.95, nearly double the cost of a whole box of cake mix, you can save a significant amount of money making your treats at home!  The chart, below, demonstrates that by the time you add your eggs and oil, a bakery-style cookie made from cake mix will cost you only 11 cents.  

It’s pretty shocking to realize that a dozen large cookies that would’ve cost you over $23 at the bakery can be made with a $1 cake mix, 20 cents worth of eggs, and 16 cents worth of oil.  The exact figures work out to $1.36 a dozen, or a stunning 94% cheaper than bakery cookies.

Even BJ’s Wholesale sugar cookies cost twice as much as  making them yourself, and the cake mix cookies taste better.

This is a case where one can really see the advantage of being a One-Income Wonder, where saving money is the job.

How Do You Make Cookie Dough Out of Cake Mix?

The basic recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. Simply stir together 1 box cake mix, 2  eggs, and 1/3 cup oil; shape, and bake! I hope you’ll stick around to be inspired by all of the amazing varieties below; but here’s a printable recipe (don’t you hate it when they bury the PDF at the bottom?):

What Can I Do with a Box of Cake Mix?

If you want to go the extra mile with your cake mix cookies, you can get even more variety out of your box of cake mix.  Here are a few ideas I got from the Betty Crocker website.  I’ll link to their full menu of cake mix cookie ideas at the bottom of this page.

• Roll balls of devil’s food cake mix cookie dough into confectioner’s sugar before baking, for festive-looking Chocolate Crinkles.  

• Bake carrot cake mix cookies, cool, and top with a schmear of cream cheese frosting and a Mallo Pumpkin.  Even though there’s no pumpkin in it, there is the suggestion of a Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor.

• For Biscotti, reduce oil to 1 Tablespoon and add 1/2 cup of flour.  Shaping and baking instructions are over at the Betty Crocker website.

• Break out the cookie cutters when you make Roll-out Cookie Dough.  Reduce to 1 egg, and replace the oil with a stick of butter and 1/3 cup of shortening.  These bake at 375 F for 5 to 7 minutes.

• Cake mix cookies work with Gluten-free mixes, too.  Replace oil with a stick of butter and reduce eggs from 2 to 1.

• Cake mix cookies tend to be a bit on the sweeter side, but they do make attractive Jam Thumbprints, if you remove the cookies from the oven a couple minutes early, indent the tops gently with the back of a demitasse spoon, and place a small dollop of jam onto each (my idea, not Betty’s).

Is Cookie Mix the Same as Cake Mix?

Cookie mix has similar ingredients, but it is not quite the same as cake mix.  Most notably, cake mix contains more leavening to make it airier, and extra ingredients, such as corn starch, to make it tender and soft.

Cake mix is a bit higher in calories.

I have not tried cookie mix in this recipe.  I also do not know what the result would be if you used a mix meant for brownies, gingerbread, quick bread, coffee cake, pound cake, or angel food cake.

Can You Substitute Butter for Oil in Cake Mix Cookies?

If you swap out the fat in your cake mix cookies, they will still be good, but it will change the texture and how much they spread.  You may enjoy the boost in flavor, though; with butter providing the best taste.   King Arthur Flour’s test kitchen staff tried the same sugar cookie recipe six times, using different fats, and described margerine as having a “certain nostalgic appeal.”  I link to their results below.

According to the Journal of Food Engineering,

Cookies made with oil spread the most, while those made with shortening spread the least.

Journal of Food Engineering

What Size Package of Cake Mix Should I Use?

This recipe is designed for a standard boxed cake mix.  I’ve seen some that are a couple ounces less or more.  It really doesn’t matter; this is a very forgiving recipe.  A mix with a little less might make cookies that spread more, because you’ll have a slightly lower ratio of dry ingredients to wet ingredients.  You could, however, make the same argument about which eggs to use – Larger eggs increase the liquid, and make the cookie spread more.

Sometimes, small pouches of cake mix are sold at dollar stores.  These are 1/2 the size of a regular mix.  An easy way to tell the difference is by checking the package, to see how much it makes. A standard mix makes 2 layers or 12 cupcakes; a pouch, 1 layer or 6 cupcakes.  You can still make cake mix cookies with a pouch – Simply reduce your other ingredients by half.  That would be one egg and a scant 2 2/3 oz. of oil.

How to Make Over 80 More Kinds of Cake Mix Cookies

Almond = white cake mix + 1t. almond extract

Almond Macaroon = white cake mix + 1t. almond extract + 1c. unsweetened shredded coconut + 1T. corn syrup 

Apple = yellow cake mix + 1 small apple, shredded

Banana Walnut = yellow cake mix + 1 banana, mashed + 1c. walnuts 

Banana Split = white cake mix + 1 banana, mashed + 6 maraschino cherries, chopped + 1/2 c. each chopped walnuts and mini chocolate chips

Brandy = yellow cake mix + 1T. brandy + 1/2c. sliced almonds

Butter = yellow cake mix + substitute 1 stick of butter for oil

Butterscotch = yellow cake mix + 1c. Butterscotch chips 

Carrot Raisin = spice cake mix + 1 carrot, finely grated + 1 c. raisins

Chocolate Chip = yellow cake mix + 1c. chocolate chips 

Chocolate Macaroon = chocolate cake mix + 1c. unsweetened shredded coconut 

Chocolate Walnut  = chocolate cake mix + 1c. chopped walnuts 

Cinnamon  = yellow cake mix + 1 1/2t. cinnamon

Coconut = white cake mix + 1c. unsweetened shredded coconut

Coffee = yellow cake mix + 1 T. espresso powder

Mocha = chocolate cake mix + 1 T. espresso powder

Ginger = white cake mix + 1t. ginger + 1/4c. chopped crystallized ginger

Date Nut = yellow cake mix + 1/2c. chopped dates + 1/2c. chopped walnuts

Hazelnut = white cake mix + 1/2c. chopped hazelnuts + 1T. Frangelico liquer

Lemon = yellow cake mix + zest of 1 lemon

Chocolate Kiss = white cake mix + gently press a Hershey Kiss into each cookie as soon as they come out of the oven.  You can also substitute peanut butter for half of the oil.

Peanut Butter = white cake mix + substitute peanut butter for half of the oil

Maple = yellow cake mix + 1t. maple extract

Swedish = white cake mix + 1t. cardamom

German Pepper = spice cake mix + 1t. – 2t. freshly-ground black pepper (some prefer white pepper)

Orange = yellow cake mix + zest of 1 orange

Mandarin Orange = yellow cake mix + 1 fresh Mandarin orange, chopped in the food processor

Key Lime = white cake mix + zest of 1 Key Lime (regular limes are good, too)

Sugar = yellow cake mix + sprinkle each cookie with sugar before baking (very sweet)

Rum Raisin = yellow cake mix + 1t. rum extract (or 1T. rum) + 1c. raisins

Spice = yellow cake mix +1t. cinnamon + 1/2t. each ginger and nutmeg

Snickerdoodle = white cake mix + sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar before baking

German Chocolate = yellow cake mix + zest of 1 lemon

Mexican Hot Chocolate = chocolate cake mix + 1t. cinnamon

Citrus = yellow cake mix + 1T zest combined from your favorite citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)

Sno Cap = chocolate cake mix + sprinkle on white non-pareils generously before baking

Pineapple = yellow cake mix + 1c. crushed pineapple, drained well

Pina Colada = yellow cake mix + 1c. crushed pineapple, drained well + 1c.unsweetened shredded coconut 

Chocolate Mint = chocolate cake mix + 1t. peppermint extract (if using peppermint oil, 2-3 drops is plenty)

Black and White = yellow cake mix + after baked and cooled, ice one side of each cookie with vanilla icing and then add chocolate icing to the other side  

Peach = yellow cake mix + 1c. canned peaches (in juice, well-drained), chopped

Peach Melba = yellow cake mix + 3/4c. canned peaches (in juice, well-drained), chopped + 1/4c. raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Vanilla Raspberry = white cake mix + 1t. vanilla extract + 3/4c. raspberries, fresh or frozen

Chewy Brownie = chocolate cake mix + 1T. corn syrup

Chewy Blondie = yellow cake mix + 1T. corn syrup

Apricot = yellow cake mix + 1/2t. almond extract + 1/2c. dried apricots, chopped 

Chai Tea = white cake mix + 1T. unsweetened iced tea powder + 1/2t. cinnamon + 1/4t. cloves

Shamrock Shake = white cake mix + 1t. peppermint extract (if using peppermint oil, 2-3 drops is plenty) + a drop of green food coloring 

Peanut = yellow cake mix + 1/2c. chopped peanuts

M&M = yellow cake mix + 1c. M&Ms

Orange Date = yellow cake mix + zest of 1 orange + 1/2c. chopped dates

Pear Ginger = yellow cake mix + 1/2c. chopped pear + 1t. ginger + 1/4c. crystallized ginger, chopped

Blueberry = white cake mix + 1/2t. almond extract + 1c. blueberries, fresh or frozen

Sandies = white cake mix + 1/2c. chopped pecans, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar before baking

Toffee = yellow cake mix + 1/2c – 1c. toffee chips, to taste

Cherry = yellow cake mix + 1/2t. almond extract + 1c. dried cherries

Marble = yellow cake mix; divide batter and add 1/4c. cocoa to one half.  Dollop the chocolate batter into the rest of the batter, without mixing; before scooping onto baking sheets

Lemon Poppy Seed = lemon cake mix + 2T. poppy seeds

Strawberry = white cake mix + 1c. strawberries, diced, fresh or frozen

Anisette = white cake mix + 1t. anise extract

Cranberry Orange = yellow cake mix + 1c. cranberries, chopped, fresh or frozen + zest of 1 orange

Eggnog = yellow cake mix + 1/2t. nutmeg

Fruitcake = yellow cake mix + 1t. vanilla extract + 1/2c. each dried cherries and pineapple + 1/4c. chopped citron or any candied citrus peel, chopped + 1/2c. walnuts 

Lavender Lemon = lemon cake mix + 2t. lavender buds

Almond Brandy = yellow cake mix + 2T. brandy + 1/2c. sliced almonds

Pistachio = white cake mix + 1/2c. chopped pistachios + 2-3 drops green food dye

Coffee Chocolate Chip = white cake mix + 1t. espresso powder + 1c. chocolate mini chips

Raspberry Chocolate Chip = white cake mix + 3/4c. raspberries, fresh or frozen + 1c. chocolate mini chips

Chocolate Orange = chocolate cake mix +  zest of 1 orange

Pumpkin = yellow cake mix + 1t. pumpkin pie spice + 1/2c. canned pumpkin

Banana Chocolate Swirl = yellow cake mix + 1 small banana, mashed; divide batter and add 1/4c. cocoa to one half.  Dollop the chocolate batter into the rest of the batter, without mixing; before scooping onto baking sheets

Cinnamon Peach = yellow cake mix + 1t. cinnamon + 3/4c. canned peaches (in juice, well-drained), chopped

Orange Creamsicle = yellow cake mix + 1t. vanilla extract + zest of 1 orange

Cherry Pecan = yellow cake mix + 1/4t. almond extract + 1c. dried cherries + 1/2c. chopped pecans

Chocolate Birthday Cake = chocolate cake mix, top with colored sprinkles before baking

Chocolate Malt = chocolate cake mix + 2T. malted milk powder

Irish Cream = yellow cake mix + 2T. Irish creme liquer

Lemon Blueberry = lemon cake mix + 1c. blueberries, fresh or frozen

Mint Fudge Crunch = chocolate cake mix + 1t. peppermint extract (if using peppermint oil, 2-3 drops is plenty) + 1/2c. crushed corn flakes cereal

Color Swirl = white cake mix + 1 small banana, mashed; divide into 2 or 3 parts.  Leave the part in the bowl white, and add a little food dye to the other part(s).  Dollop the colored batter into the white batter, without mixing; before scooping onto baking sheets

Harvey Wallbanger = yellow cake mix + 1T. Sambuca liquer + 1T. orange juice concentrate

Resources for Further Exploration