Festive Christmas Cookies

Featured in Sweet treats that make you happy.

Whip up soft, chewy cookies using yellow box mix. They're loaded with festive M&Ms, bringing color and chocolate to your table. The cookies feature crispy edges but stay tender inside for the perfect bite. Vanilla adds a flavor boost, and a few M&Ms on top create a charming look. Done in minutes, these quick cookies are your go-to solution for holiday treats made super simple.
Maria from tastyhush
Updated on Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:13:51 GMT
Close-up of colorful M&M-studded cookies, freshly baked and stacked on a white plate. Pin it
Close-up of colorful M&M-studded cookies, freshly baked and stacked on a white plate. | tastyhush.com
Looking for a quick way to whip up holiday treats? Give these Christmas Cake Mix Cookies a go. Grabbing a boxed cake mix makes the whole thing super quick, so you get more chill time during the holidays instead of hanging out by the oven.

Why You'll Love These Cookies

If you're craving something sweet but don't want any hard work, these are totally for you. Using boxed cake mix means anyone can jump right in, no baking experience needed. Toss in some green and red M&Ms, and you've got cheerful cookies that taste awesome and look bright. They stay nice and soft, so they're awesome for gatherings or cozy snacks with the fam.

Stuff You’ll Need

  • Yellow Cake Mix: Just one standard box
  • Eggs: Two whole eggs
  • Cooking Oil: Use half a cup of your usual kitchen oil
  • M&Ms: Grab the red and green for that holiday vibe

How to Do It

Warm the oven:
Set temp to 350°F so everything bakes even.
Combine the ingredients:
Chuck cake mix, oil, and eggs into a bowl. Mix it up till smooth.
Toss in M&Ms:
Gently fold in a cup of those candy pieces. Try not to crush ‘em.
Scoop onto tray:
Drop spoonfuls on your baking pan. Keep a gap between each.
Top with more candy:
Press a couple extra M&Ms on each bit of dough.
Bake it up:
Let ‘em bake for 10-12 minutes, just until the sides turn a little golden.
Cool down:
Let cookies sit a few minutes, then shift to a cooling rack.

Why Bother with Cake Mix

Grabbing a cake mix box makes baking a piece of cake. No need to track down piles of stuff—just open the box and you’re almost there. Feel free to swap in other cake mix flavors if you’re bored. It’s easy and works every time.

The Scoop on Oil

Basic kitchen oil is perfect here. It keeps your cookies tasting chewy and soft. You won't notice the oil, just the sweet and the candy bits. Want a twist? Use coconut oil for a fun touch of flavor.

Switch Up the Extras

Red and green candies make it feel like Christmas, but you’re not stuck with that. Toss in nuts, chocolate chips, or rainbow candy instead. Let everyone toss in their top pick so everyone’s got a treat they really want.

How To Make Them Look Awesome

Want super round cookies? Here’s the move: as soon as cookies are out of the oven, use your spatula to nudge the edges into circles. You’ll have perfect-looking cookies to show off or pass around.

How To Keep Cookies Soft

Wait until your cookies cool all the way, then tuck them in a sealed container. This keeps ‘em soft for days. Use wax paper between the stacks so they won’t glue themselves together.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What’s the best mix to use?

Yellow mix is always great, but don’t stop there! Chocolate gives you dark, rich cookies. White mix makes pretty pale cookies that are great with decorations. Even devils food works. Any box makes about 24 cookies!

→ Can I add extras?

Absolutely! Toss in chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans. Mini chocolate chips work too, or dried fruit like cranberries. Coconut is fun! But keep extras to 1 cup max or the cookies might crumble. Save some M&Ms for topping!

→ What’s the secret to keeping them soft?

Make sure they’re cool, then layer them in a tin or plastic box with a snug lid. Use wax paper to keep them from sticking. Leave them on the counter, not in the fridge—they’ll harden in there. If they dry out, add a bread slice overnight to revive them.

→ Can I prep ahead?

Yep! Make the dough and keep it chilled up to two days. Wrap it tight or scoop into balls first, then refrigerate. Let it sit out for a half-hour before baking. Dough can stiffen when cold—that’s normal!

→ Fun for kids to help?

Totally! Kids love pressing M&Ms into cookies. The dough’s easy to handle and doesn’t get sticky. Short baking time means less waiting. Let them pick candy colors for holidays—green and red for Christmas, orange for Halloween!

Conclusion

Into simple sweets? Check these out:

  • Quick Lemon Treats: Add juice for zingy bites
  • Rainbow Chip Drops: Easy mix, colorful fun
  • Fudge Squares: Eggs and oil turn mix into magic

Christmas Box Cookies

Saved Christmas with these easy box cookies!

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
12 Minutes
Total Time
22 Minutes
By: Maria

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 25 cookies

Dietary: Vegetarian, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1/2 cup of oil.
02 1 box of yellow cake mix.
03 1 bag of red and green M&Ms.
04 2 eggs.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 350° and let it heat up.

Step 02

Combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil in a large bowl. Stir till the mixture is smooth.

Step 03

Gently stir in a cup of M&Ms.

Step 04

Scoop small amounts of dough onto a baking sheet, leaving gaps in between.

Step 05

Stick a few extra M&Ms on top of each cookie dough piece.

Step 06

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges start to turn golden.

Step 07

Let them sit for about 3 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes

  1. Perfect for parties or cookie exchanges.
  2. Optional: Add vanilla or throw in some nuts.

Tools You'll Need

  • Oven.
  • Large bowl.
  • Wooden spoon or mixer.
  • Cookie sheet.
  • Wire cooling rack.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains wheat.
  • Contains eggs.
  • Contains soy.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 163
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 22 g
  • Protein: 2 g