If you love festive treats that take hardly any effort but taste like a bakery dream, these Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies are about to be your new holiday favorite. With a pillowy-soft texture, plenty of melty chocolate chips, cheery red and green M&M’s, and the optional razzle-dazzle of sprinkles, these cookies bring effortless magic to your kitchen. The best part? With a box of cake mix as your secret weapon, you’re only twenty minutes away from sweet, jolly perfection.

Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies is in their simplicity. Each ingredient plays a starring role—whether it’s adding buttery richness, a punch of chocolate, or that holiday pop of color. Here’s what you’ll need, plus a quick tip for each.

Vanilla or white cake mix (1 box, 15.25 ounces): Gives the cookies their ultra-soft texture and sweet, vanilla-forward flavor foundation.
Unsalted butter (1/2 cup, softened): Adds delicious richness and helps create the cookie’s tender crumb—make sure it’s soft for easy mixing!
Large eggs (2): Bind everything together and contribute to that chewy, bakery-style structure.
Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Rounds out the flavor and adds a cozy, aromatic warmth.
Red and green M&M’s (1/2 cup): For colorful, chocolatey bursts that give each cookie a festive look and taste.
Mini chocolate chips (1/2 cup): Scatter extra chocolate throughout every bite without overpowering the cookie.
Holiday sprinkles (1/4 cup, optional): Bring whimsical fun and candy crunch, making each bite feel like a celebration!
Salt (1/4 teaspoon, if using unsalted butter): Enhances all the sweet and chocolatey notes—don’t skip if your butter isn’t salted!

How to Make Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies

Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lining your pans prevents sticking and keeps cleanup blissfully easy—crucial when the holiday hustle is in full swing!

Step 2: Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine your cake mix, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and the salt, if using. Grab a sturdy spoon or a stand mixer and blend everything together until you have a soft, cohesive dough. It comes together in a snap, and you’ll notice the dough smells sweet and inviting right away.

Step 3: Add the Festive Flair

Gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, mini chocolate chips, and sprinkles (if desired). Be careful not to overmix; it’s all about distributing those pops of color and chocolate evenly throughout the dough for that signature Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies look.

Step 4: Portion and Bake

Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized balls of dough and space them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. This ensures the cookies have room to spread out into those perfect, thick-yet-chewy rounds. Slide them into your preheated oven and bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are just set but the centers are still a bit soft—trust me, they’ll finish setting as they cool!

Step 5: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them firm up (so you don’t lose any melty chocolate chips!) and makes them easier to handle. Once cool, dive in—or package them up for gifting, because these treats are always a hit.

How to Serve Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies

Garnishes

A little extra garnish goes a long way with these cookies. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle a few additional M&M’s or mini chocolate chips onto each cookie right after baking—they’ll melt slightly and stick for added pizzazz. A tiny dusting of powdered sugar lends a snowy look that’s irresistible for Santa and snackers alike.

Side Dishes

Is there anything better than cookies and a cold glass of milk? For a holiday twist, serve your Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies alongside mugs of hot cocoa or a festive peppermint latte. If you’re hosting a cookie exchange or dessert table, these cookies also pair beautifully with crisp shortbreads or nutty bars for a delicious contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

Put the “gift” in gifting by packing these cookies in a decorative tin layered with parchment or holiday tissue. For parties, arrange them in a circular “wreath” on a pretty plate and top with extra sprinkles. Or, skewer a few onto festive sticks and wrap in cello for the cutest (and tastiest) cookie pops at the party!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve their soft texture and prevent any melting chocolate mishaps. A slice of sandwich bread in the container can help maintain that perfect chewiness.

Freezing

These cookies are freezer-friendly wonders! Cool them completely, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze until firm. Transfer to a resealable freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to three months. They’re fantastic straight from the freezer for impromptu guests or surprise Santa visits!

Reheating

To enjoy that “fresh from the oven” warmth, pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds, or warm a whole tray in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes. The chocolate chips melt a bit, the centers get dreamy, and you’ll be transported straight back to baking day.

FAQs

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix for this recipe?

Absolutely! While vanilla or white cake mix gives Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies their classic flavor and pale background for the holiday colors, feel free to experiment with chocolate cake mix for extra chocolaty cookies or even spice cake mix for a subtle warmth.

How do I keep the cookies from spreading too much?

If your dough feels especially soft, you can chill it for 20-30 minutes before baking. Also, make sure your butter isn’t melted—just softened. Lining the baking sheet with parchment instead of greasing it helps the cookies keep their shape, too.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough up to two days in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes, then scoop and bake as normal.

Are Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies nut-free?

As written, the recipe contains no nuts, but always double-check the ingredients in your cake mix, chocolate chips, and M&Ms if allergies are a concern. You can also add chopped nuts if you like a bit of crunch!

What’s the secret to that bakery-style softness?

It all comes down to slightly underbaking the cookies. Pull them out when the edges are set but the centers still look a bit glossy—they’ll firm up as they cool, delivering that signature Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies chew.

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve tasted how easy—and irresistibly delicious—these Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies are, you’ll want to make them part of every holiday season. Gather the family, pour some cocoa, and let the smell of freshly baked cookies turn any day into a festive celebration. Happy baking, and may your cookie jar never be empty!

Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 25 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies are a festive and easy treat perfect for the holiday season. They are made with a simple cake mix base and loaded with colorful M&M’s, mini chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Santa Cookies:

1 box vanilla or white cake mix (15.25 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup red and green M&M’s
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup holiday sprinkles (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)

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Instructions

Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix cookie dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt (if using). Mix until a soft dough forms. Gently fold in M&M’s, chocolate chips, and sprinkles if using.
Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are set and centers are slightly soft.
Cool and serve: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.