Cake Batter Christmas Cookies (Funfetti-Style Festive Treats)
If you want to look like you spent hours baking adorable Christmas cookies while actually doing the bare minimum… welcome. Cake Batter Christmas Cookies are the cheat code of holiday baking. Soft, colorful, festive, and so ridiculously easy that even your most chaotic holiday mood can’t ruin them. They’re basically Christmas spirit in cookie form — with sprinkles, obviously.
Why This Recipe is Awesome
These cookies start with a cake mix, which already tells you this recipe is going to treat you kindly. They come out soft and chewy every time, they take almost no effort, and they look like you went full Pinterest-mode even if you didn’t. It’s idiot-proof — even I didn’t mess it up, and that’s saying something.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 20–24 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10–12 minutes
Calories: ~130 per cookie
Total Time: ~25 minutes
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 box vanilla or funfetti cake mix
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles (the more chaotic, the better)
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional but highly encouraged)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You know… so cleanup isn’t a whole emotional journey later.
- In a bowl, mix the cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until combined. The dough will be thick — like “arm workout” thick.
- Fold in sprinkles and white chocolate chips. Try not to eat all the dough.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto the baking sheet. Leave space — these babies like to spread.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers still look a little soft. That’s the secret to chewy cookies.
- Let them cool for 5 minutes on the sheet before transferring. Or eat them warm and accept that you have no self-control.
- Add extra sprinkles on top while warm if you want to feel like a cookie-decorating champion with zero effort.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overbaking: The cookies will look underdone at 10 minutes — trust the process.
- Using too many sprinkles: I know, Christmas enthusiasm is real, but too many sprinkles can make the cookies weirdly crunchy.
- Skipping parchment paper: The bottoms will stick, and you will cry.
- Using salted butter instead of oil: Oil keeps them soft. Butter will change the texture (not in a good way).
Alternatives & Substitutions
- Swap vanilla cake mix for chocolate, red velvet, or strawberry for fun color variations.
- Use chocolate chips instead of white chocolate if you prefer things less sweet.
- Add crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist — very festive, very cute.
- Swap vanilla extract for almond extract if you want the cookies to taste like bakery-style sugar cookies.
- Add M&Ms because… why not? It’s Christmas.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use gluten-free cake mix?
Yep! The texture stays pretty much the same — surprisingly soft.
Can I chill the dough?
You don’t need to, but if your dough feels sticky or chaotic, 20 minutes in the fridge helps.
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
Too much oil or warm dough. Chill it and behave yourself next time.
Can I freeze the dough?
Absolutely. Scoop it into balls first, freeze, then bake straight from the freezer.
Do I need to use Christmas sprinkles?
Technically no. Emotionally? Yes.
Can I make these for other holidays?
Of course — switch the sprinkles and boom: Easter Cookies, Birthday Cookies, Fourth of July Cookies… whatever your heart wants.
Can kids help with this recipe?
Yes, and they’ll feel like little baking prodigies. Just hide the sprinkles or you’ll find them everywhere.
Final Thoughts
Cake Batter Christmas Cookies are the ultimate “I want something cute AND delicious but I refuse to struggle” holiday treat. They’re festive, fluffy, colorful, and ridiculously easy — holiday baking without the holiday stress. Now go whip up a batch, share them with someone you like (or don’t — no judgment), and enjoy your new status as the person who brings the fun cookies. You’ve totally earned it!
