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I love making cake mix cookies because they’re so easy! For these cookies I used vanilla cake mix to make the cookie dough, baked the cookies and frosted them with a simple homemade buttercream frosting. If you’ve never made cake mix sugar cookies before you need to try this recipe!
They are one of my favorite easy cookie recipes for the holidays or anytime I need a quick batch of cookies. You will love how easy these cookies are to make!
I love making these sugar cookies for Jordan’s class parties at school and during the holidays when it’s so busy there’s barely time to bake. Since they are made with cake mix, they are really, really easy to make. You’d never guess they’re made with cake mix, though, because they taste like regular sugar cookies. I frost them with buttercream frosting and, of course, top them with sprinkles. Jordan loves her sprinkles!
What I love about cake mix cookies is that the mix has all of the dry ingredients you need all packaged up in one box. Instead of following the instructions on the box I just use the dry mix and add butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to make the cookie dough.
Starting with a cake mix is such an easy cookie hack!
It really is a time-saver! You don’t have to drag all of the flour, sugar and other dry ingredients from the pantry and measure them out. This is especially nice during the holidays when you need a last-minute batch of cookies for parties or cookie platters. I always have a few boxes of cake mix on hand so I can bake up a batch of cookies quickly!
Did I mention you only need one bowl to make the cookie dough? Yep, just another reason to love these easy cookies.
How to Make Cake Mix Sugar Cookies
Since we’re using cake mix the ingredient list is pretty short for these sugar cookies:
- 2 boxes Betty Crocker Super Moist Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1 cup of softened butter
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Basically, we’re doctoring up the cake mix. So, disregard the instructions and ingredients on the box. We only need the dry mix to make these cookies and add other ingredients to turn it into soft and tender sugar cookies.
- Cream the butter until it’s smooth.
- Add the eggs, cake mix, and vanilla and mix until the dough comes together.
That’s it! I know, so ridiculously easy, right? It takes just two steps and all of five minutes to make the cookie dough.
- I like to scoop about two tablespoons of dough to form the cookies dough balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 9 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool the cookies completely before frosting them.
Buttercream Frosting
Of course, frosting is a must for these cookies! I like to make a basic buttercream frosting and I usually switch up the colors depending on the occasion.
The amount of frosting this recipe make is enough to cover the cookies in a light layer of frosting. If you like a lot of frosting on your cookies you should definitely double the recipe.
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Cream the butter until it’s smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. The mixture will be crumbly at this point but once you add the vanilla and heavy cream it will smooth out and turn creamy. Once combined, add your food coloring if you’re using it.
The next time you need a quick batch of cookies I hope you give these a try. I think you’ll be keeping boxes of cake mix in your pantry after you do so you can make them any time you want! They’re just so easy!
If you love using cake mix for a shortcut, try these recipes:
Here are my other favorite sugar cookie recipes:
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Cake Mix Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2 boxes (approximately 15 ounces each) Yellow, White or Vanilla Cake Mix
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- Food coloring and sprinkles as desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Mix butter in an electric mixer until smooth. Add cake mix, eggs, and vanilla extract and mix until dough comes together.
- Scoop 2 tablespoon sized balls onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 8-9 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
- To make frosting, cream butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix until incorporated (mixture will be crumby). Add vanilla and heavy cream and beat until smooth. Tint with food coloring as desired.
- Frost tops of cookies and sprinkle with sprinkles!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
Use this easy cake mix hack – make Cake Mix Sugar Cookies for an easy but delicious sugar cookie recipe. They’re soft and chewy with a homemade frosting and no one will guess they’re from a box!
These are so pretty, and such a nice post Dorothy. What a horrible tragedy that I can’t stop getting emotional over, and yet I don’t know a single person harmed. I can’t imagine their emotions!!
I know, me neither Aimee! 🙁
We live 30 minutes from Newtown…Our whole state is mourning, but there are so many wonderful people in this state who have offered their support and prayers. It really sends it home living so close to this town. Thank you for your support.
I just can’t imagine it! ((Hugs)) to you all!
I think this is a lovely gesture:)
Thanks Sue!
I love this recipe Dorothy, you cant go wrong with sugar cookies with frosting or sugar crystals! thanks so much for putting this all together, and I am so glad I got to be apart of this also today!
Thanks Pamela!
Dorothy, I love your cookie and thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post. I need to make some cookies this weekend and I think I just found the one to make. It is honor to participate in today’s tribute to Sandy Hook and I am linking to your post. Have a lovely weekend and a holiday. ~Cindy
Thank you Cindy! And thanks for joining in.
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