Name: 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; 16 ounces white or confetti cake mix; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles or jimmies; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened; 4 ounces original brick-style cream cheese, softened; 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 for garnish

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 9 reviews

If you’re craving a cookie that’s both fun and utterly delicious, wait until you try my Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. Imagine soft, chewy cookies bursting with colorful sprinkles swirled right into the batter, topped with the creamiest, fluffiest frosting and a sprinkle of joy on top. It’s a recipe that’s become my go-to for celebrations, quick treats, or whenever I want to brighten someone’s day (including mine!). Let me walk you through exactly how to nail these festive cookies with tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.

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Why This Recipe Works

Simplicity with a Twist: Using cake mix simplifies your prep but still produces bakery-quality cookies.
Perfect Texture: The combination of eggs, oil, and baking powder creates soft yet sturdy cookies that hold their shape.
Fun and Festive: Rainbow sprinkles add color and a subtle crunch without overwhelming the cookie.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Rich and tangy frosting balances sweetness and makes the cookies irresistible.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful sprinkles cookies, easy cake mix cookie recipe, festively decorated cookies, chewy fun dessert - 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

These ingredients come together so beautifully to make a soft, colorful cookie with the perfect bite. Plus, I’ve included a few tips about brands and tweaks that might make your cookie journey easier and tastier.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful sprinkles cookies, easy cake mix cookie recipe, festively decorated cookies, chewy fun dessert - Flat lay of two whole uncracked large brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl filled with pale golden vegetable oil, a neat pile of white confetti cake mix powder, a small mound of fine white baking powder powder, a small white ceramic bowl of bright rainbow sprinkles, a chunk of unsalted butter softened to room temperature, a block of original brick-style cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl filled with sifted white confectioners’ sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with clear vanilla extract, a tiny white ceramic bowl containing fine white salt, another small white ceramic bowl with colorful confetti sprinkles placed symmetrically around, all ingredients fresh and natural, arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Large eggs: They bind the batter and add richness. Fresh eggs always make a difference.
Vegetable or canola oil: Keeps the cookies moist and tender; these neutral oils won’t interfere with the flavor.
Cake mix (white or confetti): This is the star shortcut—picking a trusted brand like Duncan Hines or Pillsbury ensures even texture and flavor.
Baking powder: Adds a slight lift so the cookies aren’t too dense; don’t skip it.
Rainbow sprinkles or jimmies: They bring that signature confetti charm; I recommend getting a brand that doesn’t bleed colors into the batter or frosting.
Unsalted butter: For the frosting, room temperature is key for smooth, fluffy results.
Original brick-style cream cheese: Avoid spreads or whipped varieties—they won’t give you the right frosting texture.
Confectioners’ sugar: Sift it if needed for a smooth, lump-free frosting.
Vanilla extract and salt: Small touches that enhance the overall flavor dramatically.
Food coloring (optional): For that customized frosting hue if you want to mimic those fancy bakery vibes.

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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.

Make It Your Way

I love how adaptable my Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is—you can tweak the sprinkles, frosting color, or even swap in almond or lemon extracts for a personal twist. Trust me, these little changes can make the cookies uniquely yours.

Variation: I’ve tried adding mini chocolate chips along with sprinkles for an extra surprise in each bite—and those were a hit with my family!
Dietary tweak: For egg-free options, I’ve experimented with flax eggs; they work okay, but the texture shifts slightly, so just keep expectations in check.
Color customizations: Food coloring in the frosting is great for holidays or themed parties; I once made pastel purple cookies for a girl’s birthday and they stole the show.

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

Step 1: Mixing It Up

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats—this helps cookies bake evenly and makes cleanup a breeze. Then, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until smooth. Next, add the cake mix and baking powder and stir just until combined. This part goes quick, but be careful not to over-mix to keep your cookies tender.

Step 2: Adding the Confetti

Fold in your rainbow sprinkles gently—this prevents the colors from bleeding too much. I’ve tried several brands, and I find name brands like Betty Crocker and Wilton minimize the bleeding, keeping your cookies bright and cheerful. Once mixed, I highly recommend chilling the dough in the fridge for about an hour; it helps prevent too much spreading while baking and enhances the flavor.

Step 3: Scoop and Bake

Use a large cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons) or two tablespoons to shape your dough into mounds. I like spacing six per sheet to give them room to spread into those perfect cookies. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating the pan halfway to ensure even baking. If you bake two sheets at once, swap their positions mid-bake to avoid uneven cooking, a trick I learned from multiple batches!

Step 4: Cooling and Frosting Time!

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes—that’s crucial so they firm up enough to move without breaking. Meanwhile, whip up the frosting by beating butter and cream cheese until fluffy, then slowly adding sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. If you want, add a drop or two of food coloring and mix to your favorite hue.

Step 5: Frost Like a Pro

I like to pipe the frosting using a zip-top bag with a snipped corner or a piping bag with a wide star tip for that bakery look. Starting from the center, swirl outward for a pretty swirl. Finish by sprinkling confetti sprinkles on top for that extra pop—using the same sprinkles you put in the dough keeps things budget-friendly and consistent.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Chill Dough Properly: Don’t skip the hour in the fridge. It helps the cookies spread less and flavors meld.
Baking Sheet Juggling: Rotating and swapping racks mid-bake ensures even cooking, especially if you have an uneven oven.
Sprinkle Selection: Test your sprinkles by placing one in water first—if it bleeds color, it might do the same in the dough or frosting.
Don’t Overbake: Pull cookies just as they look set but still soft—residual heat finishes the job for that perfect chewy edge.

How to Serve Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful sprinkles cookies, easy cake mix cookie recipe, festively decorated cookies, chewy fun dessert - The image shows seven round cookies placed closely on a white plate with a subtle patterned edge, all topped with a smooth layer of light cream-colored frosting swirled in a circular pattern. Each cookie is decorated with many small, colorful round and sprinkle-shaped confetti in red, purple, blue, yellow, green, and white, scattered evenly over the frosting. The plate sits on a white marbled surface next to a small yellow bowl filled with more colorful sprinkles and a glass of light pink liquid. A bright blue and green floral patterned cloth partially covers the surface around the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love topping these cookies with extra rainbow sprinkles because they add a playful crunch and vibrant look. For holidays, I switch to themed sprinkles—like pastel hearts for Valentine’s or tiny stars during the festive season.

Side Dishes

Pair these with a tall glass of cold milk or a warm cup of coffee or tea. If you’re serving a crowd, I often bring out fruit platters or a simple vanilla ice cream which makes the cookies feel like an elevated dessert.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays, I’ve arranged these cookies on tiered dessert stands, each layer sporting a different frosting color—a real showstopper! Another favorite is wrapping a few in cellophane with a colorful ribbon for easy, cute party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover frosted cookies in a single layer inside an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If it’s warm or humid, I pop them in the fridge, where they keep fresh around 5 days. Just make sure not to stack them to avoid messy frosting transfers.

Freezing

Since frosting doesn’t freeze well, I freeze unfrosted baked cookies instead. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw on the counter and frost fresh before serving.

Reheating

If your cookies have been chilled or frozen, warming them in the microwave for about 10 seconds brings back that soft, just-baked sensation. Be careful not to overheat or they’ll turn tough.

FAQs

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

Absolutely, but I recommend sticking to white or confetti cake mixes from reliable brands to ensure the right texture and flavor. Some mixes may have different ingredient blends that could affect how your cookies bake.
Why should I chill the dough before baking?

Chilling the dough slows the spreading during baking, so your cookies keep a thicker, more uniform shape. It also helps the flavors meld, giving you tastier results.
Can I skip the frosting if I’m in a hurry?

Definitely! These cookies are delicious on their own thanks to the cake mix base and sprinkles. But if you want to add a quick frosting without fuss, you can spread a store-bought cream cheese frosting or even dust with powdered sugar.
What’s the best way to prevent sprinkles from bleeding color?

Look for sprinkle brands known for colorfastness (like Betty Crocker or Wilton) and add them gently to the batter without overmixing. Also, avoid sprinkles with added sugars that melt quickly, as these tend to bleed more.
Can I make these cookies dairy-free?

You can make modifications like using dairy-free margarine and cream cheese substitutes for the frosting, and maybe an egg replacer if needed. However, the texture and taste might shift, so test small batches first to adjust as needed.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe feels like a little party in every bite, and I love how quick and fuss-free it is. Whether you’re baking for a birthday, a casual snack, or just because the cookie craving hits, you can’t go wrong. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do—trust me, once you try them, they’ll become a staple in your recipe box too. Don’t forget to let me know how yours turn out!