Hegub
Dessert

Best Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe (Cake Mix Recipe!)

Make the most festive cookies for the holidays with these Christmas Crinkle Cookies, with a box cake mix!

Prep
10 min
Cook
9 min
Total
19 min
Serves
28 Cookies
Calories
33
IngredientsStepsNotesNutrition

If you need a holiday cookie that looks like it took hours but really it only takes about 20 minutes, these Christmas Crinkle Cookies are about to become your new go-to holiday cookie recipe. Made with a box of white cake mix, a few pantry staples, and a swirl of red and green food coloring. These cookies have a soft, brownie-like crinkle cookie texture that everyone loves, without any fussy dough or special equipment.

I make a batch…or three of these every single December, and they’re always the first cookie to disappear off the platter. They’re the kind of recipe that’s perfect for last-minute parties, cookie exchanges, or an easy weeknight baking project with the kids. I’m going to show you exactly how to get those vibrant colors and soft cookies in minutes!

Table of contents

What are Christmas Crinkle Cookies?

Christmas Crinkle Cookies are soft, chewy cookies made from a cake mix base that’s rolled into balls, coated in powdered sugar, and baked until the outside cracks and reveals a bright pop of color underneath. They’re a great festive twist on classic crinkle cookies, being made 1000s of times by Pinterest users too; they’re loved for their festive colors and minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love Christmas Crinkle Cookies

  • Ready in about 20 minutes or less!
  • Just a few simple ingredients, including cake mix.
  • No mixer needed; use a bowl and whisk.
  • Freezer-friendly dough that you can prep ahead for the holidays!
  • Kid-friendly with vibrant red and green colors.

Ingredient Notes

  • White Cake Mix (at least 13.25oz) – This will be the base of the recipe; using a white cake mix is what keeps your red and green colors true and bright, not muddy.
  • Eggs – These will bind the dough together and give the cookies the chewy texture.
  • Olive Oil – Keeps the cookies moist without needing butter. This can be swapped with vegetable oil too.
  • Powdered Sugar – Used to coat the dough balls before baking, which is what creates the “crinkle” crack on top.
  • Red and Green Gel Food Coloring – Gel coloring is the secret to these cookies; it will give you the bold, holiday-bright colors.

How to Make Christmas Crinkle Cookies

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, silicone baking mat, or coat with nonstick baking spray.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. Mix until all ingredients are combined. I used a Danish dough whisk, but a large mixing spoon will also work. Using an electric mixer can make the dough too thick.
  4. Separate the dough equally into 2 bowls. In one bowl, using a toothpick, add the red food coloring, and in the other bowl, using a different toothpick, add in the green coloring. Mix this well until the desired color is reached.
  5. Using a small cookie scoop, roll the dough into smaller balls, 1 1/2 Tablespoon size.
  6. Then coat the dough ball in powdered sugar.
  7. Place on the cookie sheet, leaving 1 1/2 inches between each ball to allow the cookies to spread.
  8. Bake in a preheated oven for 9-12 minutes.
  9. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
  10. Serve and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Christmas Crinkle Cookies

  • Use gel food color; do not use liquid. This is the single biggest difference between pale, washed-out colors and ones with true holiday red and forest-green color. Wilton’s Red-Red and Green Kelly are my go-to choices.
  • If your dough feels sticky, don’t add more cake mix. Instead, pop the bowl in the fridge for 15 minutes, or coat your hands with powdered sugar while you roll. This is a normal part of working with cake mix dough, not a sign that you’ve done something wrong. The base ingredients can be mixed in a large mixing bowl with a Danish dough whisk or in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • Don’t skimp on the powdered sugar coating. A thin coat won’t crack properly in the oven. Be sure to fully roll the dough balls.
  • Add extra flavor. The cake mix brings sweetness, but if you want more flavor, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough for a homemade taste.
  • Watch your first batch closely. Ovens vary, and these cookies can go from perfectly soft to overbaked. Pull them out right as the tops crack and the centers still look slightly underdone; they’ll set up as they cool.
  • Use a cookie scoop. Use a cookie scoop that is about 1 1/2 TBSP and scoop the dough with the cookie scoop into cookie dough balls, then coat it with the powdered sugar and place it on the prepared baking sheet.

Variations of Christmas Crinkle Cookies

  • Gluten-Free – Use a gluten-free white cake mix such as one from King Arthur. If you do use a gluten-free yellow cake mix, you’ll have muted colors.
  • Swap Colors – Use these for other holidays, like black and orange for Halloween or pastels for Easter.
  • Flavor Mix-Ins – Add in chocolate chips or crushed peppermint for texture or sprinkle it right on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get the vibrant colors?

The best food coloring to use is Wilton Red-Red and Wilton Kelly Green. Make sure to use gel food coloring and white cake mix to get the most vibrant colors.

What cake mix do you use for this recipe?

This recipe is made with a Betty Crocker White Cake Mix, 13.25oz. It is imperative to make sure that you get the cake mix with the correct ounces if you are going to follow this recipe.

Can I make the dough in advance?

The dough can be stored in the fridge up to 2 days or in the freezer in a freezer-safe bag up to 2 months. Let it come to room temperature before baking.

Why didn’t my cookies crack on top?

This usually means the powdered sugar coating was too thin. Roll each dough ball heavily in powdered sugar.

What to Serve with Christmas Crinkle Cookies

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Whipped Hot Chocolate

Homemade Egg Nog

On a holiday platter with Gingerbread Cookies or Cut-Out Cookies.

Storage Tips

Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to a week. Unbaked dough balls can be frozen for up to 2 months; just thaw them at room temperature before baking.

These Christmas Crinkle Cookies are the perfect crowd-pleasing holiday cookie that doesn’t have to be complicated. Just use a few simple pantry ingredients and your favorite cake mix for the best batch of Christmas Cookies!

Ingredients

28 Cookies

Steps

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  2. 2

    Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, silicone baking mat, or coat with nonstick baking spray.

  3. 3

    In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. Mix until all ingredients are combined. I used a Danish dough whisk, but a large mixing spoon will also work. Using an electric mixer can make the dough too thick.

  4. 4

    Separate the dough equally into 2 bowls. In one bowl, using a toothpick add the red food coloring and in the other bowl using a different toothpick, add in the green coloring. Mix this well until the desired color is reached.

  5. 5

    Using a small cookie scoop, roll the dough into smaller balls 1 1/2 Tbsp size.

  6. 6

    Then coat the dough ball in powdered sugar.

  7. 7

    Place on the cookie sheet, leaving 1 1/2 inches between each ball to allow the cookies to spread.

  8. 8

    Bake in a preheated over for 9-12 minutes.

  9. 9

    Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.

  10. 10

    Serve and Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories
33
Carbs
1 g
Protein
0.4 g
Fat
3 g
Sodium
5 mg
Sugar
1 g

Estimates for one serving.

Filed under Recipes Dessert Holidays Christmas Cookies Trending Christmas

Cook next