Sometimes I am on it. And sometimes it dawns on me that a month ago I promised to send in two dozen cookies for the teachers tomorrow. Yikes! I know that I am not the only one who needs emergency cookies now and again, right?! That’s when I break out the easiest cookie I know — the crinkle cookie. And just in time for Christmas, I created red and green Christmas Crinkle Cookies. (Also known as Christmas Crackle Cookies.)
These cookies become my go-to so often that I regularly keep a box of cake mix in my pantry, even though I have never once baked a cake. That way as long as I have two eggs, I can make cookies.
Always on the search for fewer artificial ingredients in my family’s life, I was intrigued to discover Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ cake mix and frostings. The Purely Simple contains simple ingredients with no colors, preservatives or artificial flavors, and it still has that delicious homemade taste. It sounded like the perfect base for my Christmas Crinkle Cookies.
So easy, so quick, so delicious.
Quick and easy Christmas cookies for the teachers.
Christmas Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ White Cake Mix
- 2 Eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- Red and green food coloring
Mix eggs, oil and cake mix in a large bowl.
Separate dough into two equal amounts.
In small bowls dye one part red and the other part green. The dough has play dough-like consistency, so I found it easiest to mix the colors by hand.
Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to create fluffier cookies.
Roll tablespoon size balls of dough in powdered sugar and place on a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 9-11 minutes at 375 degrees.
What is your favorite dessert to bake at Christmastime?
Christmas Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- Pillsbury Purely Simple White Cake Mix
- 2 Eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- Red and green food coloring
Instructions
-
Mix eggs, oil and cake mix in a large bowl.
-
Separate dough into two equal amounts.
-
In small bowls dye one part red and the other part green. The dough has play dough-like consistency, so I found it easiest to mix the colors by hand.
-
Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to create fluffier cookies.
-
Roll tablespoon size balls of dough in powdered sugar and place on a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet.
-
Bake for 9-11 minutes at 375 degrees.
If you love these Christmas Crinkle cookies, you will love these Lemon Crackle Cookies. Same idea, just lemon!
Can these be made from a regular cake mix? if so, do you need to alter ingredients?
Yes, they can be made with another cake mix. I just really like the simple ingredients of Pillsbury Simple and they turn out perfect with this mix.
I also was wondering how many this recipe makes. Thanks for this easy and festive recipe!
It makes more than 2 dozen, but not quite 3 dozen. I think I got 32 cookies the last time I made it. 🙂
does it have to be the simply pillsbury or can it be the plain pillsbury brand
You can make them with regular Pilsbury too. I just like the simpler ingredients list of the Simply Pilsbury. But they will work (and taste) just as well. Enjoy!
Unless you are giving cookies to elementary teachers, do not give these or any homemade goodie. Sadly, there have been too many cases, even in elementary school, of baked goods tained with pot or other substances.
Oh my!!! I never want to leave my preschool/elementary school bubble!
I’m intrested in making these for christmas. does anyone know if they are soft or chewy or hard cookies?
Soft and chewy. Like cake! (Unless you burn them, did that once b/c I was too wrapped up in gift wrapping! LOL!) Enjoy!!!
I did a trial run on these cookies and they turned out more like a brownie. Today I am making another batch but I altered the recipe adding 1/4 cup half & half. Also, after dividing the dough, I added vanilla flavoring to red half and mint flavoring to green. Also I am going to bake at a lower temp because my gas oven runs too ho
If you use French vanilla cake mix you don’t need to add vanilla flavoring
Can I use chocolate cake mix, minus the food coloring of course?
For chocolate crinkles, sure thing! Enjoy!
Use Brownie mix instead…..but add same egg & oil.
This recipe is HORRIBLE!!!!!! Sticky and gross. You forgot flour or corn startch. Nasty!!!
Sorry you had trouble with the recipe. The flour is in the cake mix, and every time I have made them they have been delicious. It is sticky when you make the balls of dough, but adding extra powdered sugar helps some. Either way, even with sticky dough they have turned out yummy!
If you over mix, they tend to be flatter. We also use a version where you omit the oil, use 4 ounces of cool whip, and 3 eggs instead of 2.
How many drops of food coloring do you typically use in each bowl of dough? I went to the grocery and unfortunately they only had green food coloring so I will only be making green crinkle cookies. Thank you!
It depends on if you are using regular food coloring or gel. I like gel because the color is very concentrated and makes the color turn out more brilliant. With the gel, you only need a couple of drops (2 maybe 3) to get the bright green (for half of the dough). If you use regular food coloring, you will need quite a bit more to be this green (especially for the whole recipe).
I am stationed overseas and unable to buy Pillsbury™ Purely Simple™ White Cake Mix
but have a great cake mix from scratch. I want to make this recipe but not sure how much mix to use.
Guidance? Thanks ahead for your time.
Oh that’s a good question. I used a 17 oz cake mix. Hope that helps.
I made these cookies and they turned out nice the first time. This time after dividing the dough in half, I am adding vanilla favoring to the red dough and mint flavoring to the green dough. I am remaking these today & I altered the recipe and added 1/4 cup half & half to make the dough more cake like instead of chewy. I am refrigerating for one hour instead of 30 min. Anxious to see how they look and taste!
I did a trial run on these cookies and they turned out more like a brownie. Today I am making another batch but I altered the recipe adding 1/4 cup half & half. Also, after dividing the dough, I added vanilla flavoring to red half and mint flavoring to green. Also I am going to bake at a lower temp because my gas oven runs too hot.
I made lemon flavored cake mix and they were wonderful! I’m going to make my own powdered sugar out of Stevia and get sugar free cool whip and sugar free cake mix. I think these will be great for a diabetic.
do these cookies freeze well??
I am not sure, they never last that long. 🙂
When I made them using brownie mix, I froze them (after baking) for 3 months and after defrosting they were still as perfect as when I first baked them.
Can these be frozen before rolling in powdered sugar and baking?
I have never tried to freeze them. I often made the dough the day before and then keep it in the fridge overnight, but I haven’t tried freezing them.
Just wondering can I make the batter and leave in fridge overnight? And also I couldn’t find the simple pillsbury so do I just use the same ingredients that you listed? Thanks!
Hi – Lisa, yes, you can leave the batter in the fridge overnight. I do this often. And yes, they can be made with another cake mix brand. I like the Simple Cake mix because it has very few ingredients, but any cake mix will do. Enjoy!
So if I use another cake mix, do I use the ingredients on the box or the ingredients that you listed
You use the ingredients I listed if you want to make cookies out of a cake mix. If you use what the box says, you will end up with a cake 🙂
Agree with the other person who said this dough was a sticky mess. Very hard and frustrating to work with. Not worth the time and effort to make these. Sorry. Would not make again.
Sorry you had trouble. I’ve found that different cake mixes make the cookies more or less sticky. Next time try the Pillsbury Purely Simple White Cake Mix, I’ve never had trouble with this one.
I have made these b4 by using cool whip in them as well it is supposed to keep them softer and about how much powders suger am I supposed to roll them up in after I take them outnofnthw freezer for 30min and what if the dough is not thick enough to roll into a ball
Just made these tonight and they have come out beautifully! So easy to make. I don’t understand the sticky comments. It was only sticky for mixing, but once refrigerated rolling the balls and then rolling in powdered sugar was a breeze! Will be making these again for sure!
Just made these & they are so yummy.
I am out of parchment paper, should I grease the cookie sheet before baking?