Name: 🎄 Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients: 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla, white, yellow, or funfetti cake mix; 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted (or 1/3 cup vegetable oil); 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional but delicious); 1 cup red & green M&M’s; 1/2 cup white chocolate chips; 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles; 1/3 cup crushed candy canes; 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries; Extra sprinkles; Melted white chocolate for drizzling; Powdered sugar for dusting

Ingredients

Scale

Basic Cookie Dough

1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla, white, yellow, or funfetti cake mix
1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted (or 1/3 cup vegetable oil)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional but delicious)

Festive Add-Ins (Choose Any)

1 cup red & green M&M’s
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles
1/3 cup crushed candy canes
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries

For Decorating

Extra sprinkles
Melted white chocolate for drizzling
Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

Step 1: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter (slightly cooled), eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
The almond extract gives the cookies a classic bakery-style Christmas flavor.

Step 2: Add the Cake Mix

Add the entire box of cake mix to the wet ingredients.
Mix using a spatula or wooden spoon.
The dough will be thick and sticky—this is normal for cake mix cookies.

Step 3: Add Festive Mix-Ins

Fold in your choice of add-ins: M&M’s, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, or crushed peppermint.
This is where the cookies become colorful and festive.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15–20 minutes.
Chilled dough makes thicker cookies and prevents spreading.

Step 5: Shape the Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Press a few extra M&M’s or sprinkles on top for a pretty finish.

Step 6: Bake

Bake for 9–11 minutes.
The cookies should look set around the edges but slightly soft in the middle—this keeps them chewy.

Step 7: Cool

Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
They will firm up as they cool.

Step 8: Decorate (Optional)

Drizzle with melted white chocolate, dust with powdered sugar, or add more sprinkles for extra Christmas magic.

Notes

Do not overbake—cake mix cookies dry out quickly.
The dough will be sticky; chilling is essential.
Butter gives richer flavor, oil gives lighter texture—use whichever you prefer.
Add-ins should total no more than 1–1.5 cups to avoid crumbly dough.