Name: Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 1 h 24 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 large eggs; ⅓ cup vegetable or canola oil; one 16-ounce box cake mix, white or confetti; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles or jimmies; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 4 ounces original brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature (do NOT use lite, reduced fat, or spreadable/whipped); 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted if lumpy; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon salt; Food coloring of choice, optional; ¼ cup confetti sprinkles, or rainbow sprinkles/jimmies as substitute

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 18 reviews

If you’re looking for a fun, colorful twist on your cookie game, you’ve got to try the Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. These cookies are like a party in your mouth—soft, chewy, and packed with vibrant sprinkles that make every bite joyful. I promise, once you try this recipe, you’ll keep coming back for more. Let me walk you through how easy and delightful baking these can be!

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Why This Recipe Works

Convenience with Cake Mix: Using cake mix as the base speeds up prep and guarantees a tender, cake-like cookie texture every time.
Perfect Balance of Moisture: The combination of eggs and oil keeps these cookies soft and chewy without being greasy or dry.
Chilling the Dough: Refrigerating the dough for an hour helps control spreading, creating thick and satisfying cookies.
Cream Cheese Frosting Finish: The luscious frosting adds richness and complements the cookie’s sweetness beautifully, making them extra special.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful sugar cookies recipe, easy celebration cookies, vibrant sprinkles cookie recipe, soft chewy cake mix cookies - Six soft round cookies are shown on a white marbled surface lined with brown parchment paper and a wire cooling rack. Each cookie has one thick, creamy white frosting layer swirled on top, covering nearly the entire cookie. The frosting is dotted with colorful round confetti sprinkles in red, purple, orange, aqua blue, and white, scattered both on the frosting and the paper around the cookies. At the bottom right corner, a white piping bag with a metal tip is partly visible as if it was just used to decorate the cookies. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe shines because each ingredient plays a starring role, from the cake mix providing that signature base, to the sprinkles adding pops of color and sweetness. Choosing the right type of sprinkles and frosting really makes a difference here, so don’t skip those little details.

Eggs: They bind everything together and add moisture for a soft bite.
Vegetable or Canola Oil: Keeps cookies tender—don’t substitute with butter for this recipe or the texture changes.
Cake Mix (White or Confetti): Choose your favorite quality brand; Pillsbury Funfetti or Duncan Hines Classic White work beautifully.
Baking Powder: Helps add just enough lift to keep cookies from being too dense.
Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies): Not all sprinkles are created equal—Wilton and Betty Crocker sprinkles hold their shape better and don’t bleed as much.
Butter (unsalted): For frosting: adds creaminess and richness.
Cream Cheese (full-fat, brick-style): The secret to tangy, smooth frosting—avoid “spreadable” types for best results.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet frosting without graininess.
Vanilla Extract: A hint of warmth and depth in the frosting.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
Food Coloring (optional): To customize frosting color and make cookies pop for special occasions.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how customizable the Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is! Whether you want to make them dairy-free or add something extra, there’s room to make it your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment—I’ve tried a few tweaks myself and they all turn out delicious.

Variation: Try swapping vegan cream cheese and dairy-free butter for a dairy-free version—I’ve done this and it’s surprisingly close to the original!
Sprinkles Swap: When I want a subtler look, I use pastel or metallic sprinkles instead of the traditional rainbow variety—it still looks festive but a bit more grown-up.
Frosting Options: If you’re short on time, Duncan Hines Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting is a great substitute; it’s perfect for spreading, though you’ll lose that fancy piped swirl look.
Texture Twist: For even fluffier cookies, add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the dough—trust me, it’s a game-changer!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Magic

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepping your baking sheets with either silicone mats, parchment paper, or a quick spray of nonstick spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until well combined—that wet mixture is the perfect canvas for the cake mix. Add the cake mix and baking powder, stirring gently to bring it all together. Finally, fold in your rainbow sprinkles. Be gentle here; over-mixing can make your cookies dense and the sprinkles less vibrant.

Step 2: Chill to Perfection

This is the trick to thick, well-shaped cookies. Pop your bowl of dough into the fridge and let it chill for about an hour. It might feel like a waiting game, but this step prevents your cookies from spreading too much during baking. Plus, cold dough is so much easier to scoop out cleanly.

Step 3: Scoop and Bake

Using a large 3-tablespoon cookie scoop or two tablespoons, form mounds of dough and place them spaced apart on the baking sheets—about six per sheet works best because these babies do spread. I like to bake one sheet at a time on the middle rack for even heat, rotating the pan halfway through. If you bake two sheets together, swap their positions and rotate them 180 degrees midway to keep your cookies baking evenly. Bake for 9 minutes and don’t fret if they seem a little soft coming out—they’ll firm up nicely as they rest.

Step 4: Cool and Frost

Let your cookies cool on the tray for about 5 minutes—they need a bit of time to set so they don’t break when you move them. While they’re cooling, whip up the frosting. Beat butter and cream cheese on high until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat again, starting slow and gradually going fast, until that frosting is silky smooth. If you’re feeling festive, drop in some food coloring now. I’ve made these with pink frosting before, but honestly, the classic white version is just as dreamy.

Transfer your frosting to a piping bag, or simply use a zip-top bag and cut a corner for an easy makeshift piping tool. Pipe swirls starting from the center outwards on each cookie or spread it with a knife if you prefer. Finish by sprinkling more colorful confetti on top—because what’s a celebration cookie without sprinkles?

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Pro Tips for Making Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Chill the Dough Thoroughly: Don’t skip the fridge time. It keeps your cookies thick and prevents them from being flat.
Rotate Baking Sheets: If baking two sheets at once, swapping them midway ensures even browning—ouch-free oven hot spots, yay!
Sprinkle Choice Matters: I’ve used multiple brands and found that some sprinkles run or bleed colors; Betty Crocker and Wilton are dependable choices that hold up well.
Frost When Cookies Are Cool: Frosting warm cookies makes a mess and melts the icing—patience here goes a long way to pretty, neat cookies.

How to Serve Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I stick with classic rainbow sprinkles on top—they add that whimsical pop we all crave. Sometimes, for parties, I use edible glitter or pastel-colored sprinkles to match the theme. It’s an easy way to dress them up without any extra work.

Side Dishes

These cookies are rich and sweet, so I like pairing them with a tall glass of cold milk or a creamy vanilla latte. If it’s brunch, these cookies alongside fresh fruit and yogurt make a festive treat that can brighten anyone’s day.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or baby showers, I’ve presented these cookies stacked with clear cellophane wrapping tied with colorful ribbons—makes for a fun party favor! Another time, I laid them out on a tiered platter grouped by frosting color, which was a big hit at a gathering. They’re happy cookies, so don’t be afraid to get playful with how you showcase them.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover frosted cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days. If my kitchen is warm or humid, I pop them in the fridge for up to 5 days, but be aware the frosting can firm up and lose some of that soft texture.

Freezing

If you want to freeze these, I recommend freezing the cookies unfrosted. Freshly baked, cooled cookies keep great in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw and frost them fresh—best flavor and texture!

Reheating

For leftover cookies that aren’t frosted, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave softens them up nicely. For frosted ones, I avoid reheating to keep the frosting from melting. Just bring them to room temperature if stored cold—that way the frosting stays just right.

FAQs

Can I use any cake mix for the Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! You can use either white or confetti cake mix for these cookies. Just keep in mind that confetti cake mix naturally adds more sprinkles and color, while white cake mix is a classic base you can customize. I’ve personally used Pillsbury Funfetti and Duncan Hines Classic White and both work beautifully.
Why do I need to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too thin and becoming flat. It solidifies the fats in the dough, so when baked, the cookies hold their shape better, resulting in those perfect thick and chewy bites.
Can I skip making the frosting and just eat the cookies plain?

Definitely! The cookies themselves are super tasty even without frosting. However, the cream cheese frosting adds a lovely tang and richness that elevates them from good to unforgettable. If you want an easier option, store-bought cream cheese frosting works too.
What if I don’t want to pipe the frosting?

No worries at all. You can simply spread the frosting on your cooled cookies with a butter knife or spatula. You’ll still get that creamy flavor without the fuss of piping. It’s all about what feels easiest and most enjoyable for you!
How long do these cookies stay fresh?

Once frosted, keep them airtight at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the fridge up to 5 days. Unfrosted cookies last longer, especially if frozen. Just make sure to store them flat to avoid messing up the frosting.

Final Thoughts

These confetti cake mix cookies have become my go-to when I need a quick, joyful treat that never disappoints. I still remember the smile on my kid’s face the first time I served them—those colorful sprinkles and that creamy frosting just brighten the whole room. If you want a cookie that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, give this Best Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe a try. You’ll wonder how you ever baked cookies any other way!