Cake Mix Spice Cookies

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If you love soft, frosted treats, these cake mix spice cookies will be a new favorite. They're easy to make and perfect for fall, when the warm, cozy flavor of cinnamon takes center stage. They also look right at home on a Christmas dessert table or tucked into a cookie exchange box.

Cake mix treats have become one of our favorite sweets to bake. These semi-homemade little bites are quicker and easier to make than homemade chocolate chip cookies, but they still taste just as good as made from scratch ones.

They stay much softer than my Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies because they are baked with butter instead of oil.

You only need three ingredients! A box of spice cake mix, softened butter and eggs.

If you have ever tasted the melt in your mouth soft frosted vanilla treats from a bakery you are in for a real treat. Now you can make them at home!

It is so easy to make them at home and have them taste just as good as bakery bought when you start with a boxed cake mix. Plus, you can make them anytime your sweet tooth has a craving.

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Equipment Needed

All of the equipment needed are basic baking tools.

Hand held mixer: The batter for this recipe gets very thick. You will not be able to mix it well enough with a whisk. I've been using this hand held mixer for the past three years. I bought it because it has a storage piece that holds the 3 types of mixer accessories that snaps on the bottom of the mixer. Helps you keep track of your beaters.
Large Mixing Bowl: Use a large enough bowl. If you try beating the ingredients in too small of a bowl they will splatter all over the place.
dough scoop: If there is one must have tool I would say its a set of dough scoops . I used a 1 tablespoon dough scoop to make these. I literally use a scoop to make all of my recipes, many of my Christmas cookie recipes and all of my cake pop recipes.
A shifter: Most people do not have a shifter on hand. I use a medium fine mesh metal strainer to sift powder sugar or flour when needed. You can find one online or in all retail stores. Here is a link to Amazon so you can see an example of what I am using.
Measuring spoons: You'll need these to make the frosting. Accurate measurements are very important when baking.
A whisk: You will use a whisk to mix the frosting ingredients.
Silicone spatula or a spoon: to scrap down the sides of the bowls. A spatula works best but in a pinch you could use a spoon.

Ingredient Notes

These three easy to find ingredients are all you need to make a batch of these treats. I am making a powdered sugar glaze frosting. If you don't want to make a glaze frosting you can also use a container of vanilla frosting instead.

To make the dough

Softened butter: do not use margarine or oil.
A large egg and a large egg white: Allow the eggs to come to room temperature.
13.25 oz. box Spice Cake Mix: I used a box of Betty Crocker Delights Spice Cake Mix with pudding in the mix.

Ingredients for the frosting

A simple powdered sugar glaze is the perfect frosting for these spiced bite sized treats. It adds just enough sweetness that does not over power the spiced flavor. This frosting firms up a bit as it dries but it does not get hard.

Powdered sugar, water, vanilla and cinnamon icing ingredients.

For the cinnamon icing

sifted powdered sugar
cinnamon
cool water, divided
pure vanilla extract: I used my homemade vanilla extract. Use pure vanilla extract do not use imitation vanilla. Pure extracts have the best flavor with no weird after taste.

Recipe Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 F. degrees.
Line the baking sheets with parchment.

Step by Step Directions

Follow the easy step by step directions with pictures below. You can find the more detailed directions in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Beat the softened butter in a large bowl using a handheld mixer until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the whole egg, and the egg white to the bowl with the whipped butter. Beat with the hand mixer for about 2 minutes until fully incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl half way through to move all of the butter into the mixture.
Step 3: Add the cake mix to the bowl of wet ingredients and mix with the hand Mixer for 3 minutes until combined. The batter will be thick.

4 image collage of each step needed to make the cookie dough batter.

Step 4: Scoop the batter with a 1 tablespoon dough scoop. Arrange the batter balls on the lined baking sheet leaving 2 inches between them.

Cookie dough on a cookie sheet before baking.

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes just until the edges a slightly golden. The centers will still be soft.

Cookie sheet with fresh baked spiced cookies.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let them cool at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Hot cookies cooling on a wire cooling rack.

To make the cinnamon flavored icing

Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Add the cinnamon and whisk to combine.
Add the vanilla extract and half the water to a bowl.
Use a whisk to mix together until lump free.
Slowly drizzle more of the water into the bowl if needed.

Perfect Frosting Consistency

Frosting too thin? You want a thick enough consistency so the frosting does not drip completely off the edges. The frosting should be as thick as pancake batter. Add a small amount of shifted powdered sugar and whisk.
Frosting too thick? If it is to thick add a few drops of water at a time. If it is too thin add ¼ to ½ cup of powdered sugar at a time to thickened.

How to know when powdered sugar frosting is the right consistency?

Pull the whisk up out of the bowl and allow the frosting to drip back into the bowl in thin streams. As the frosting falls from the whisk and lands on the top of the frosting in the bowl the streams should float for a few seconds.

Powdered sugar icing tips

Water amounts will vary. Humidity and the temperature of your home can make a difference.
Frost them only after they have cooled completely.
Place the powdered sugar and ground spice into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together to evenly distribute the ground spice with the powdered sugar.

Icing Dipped Spice Treats

Dipping them into a simple sugar glaze like the powdered sugar cinnamon icing I used here is one of the easiest, no-fuss ways to add frosting.

The trick is getting the perfect consistency of the icing. Its very easy to do and if you make it too thin or too thick you can easily fix it by adding a small amount of water or whisking in more sifted powdered sugar.

How to frost the cookies

Gently hold each cookie by the edge and dip the top into the frosting just enough to 'kiss' the surface. Lift straight up so the glaze sticks evenly, then place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to catch any drips.

Icing dipped cookies on a wire rack so the excess icing can drip off.

Allow the frosting to set for a couple of hours before storing.

Do not stack them on top of one another when storing. This type of frosting does not harden. It will only form a thin crust.

Drizzled Icing

There's something so pretty about a drizzle of icing! I like to frost half the batch that way for a little variety. It's the same trick I use with my Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies. One recipe, but two completely different looks.

Powdered sugar icing drizzled cookies in a wire rack so the excess frosting can drip off.

Storing

These store very well at room temperature for almost a week. Do not refrigerate or the frosting will melt.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?

If you don't have spice cake mix on hand, try using yellow cake mix and adding 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to get that warm spice flavor. It's a great way to use what you already have in the pantry.

Do these cookies need to be refrigerated after baking?

These store just fine at room temperature in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. If your kitchen runs warm, you can pop them in the fridge to help them stay fresh a little longer.

What can I mix in to make these cookies extra special?

Chopped pecans or walnuts, or even dried cranberries all work great.

These easy spice treats come together in minutes with just a few ingredients. They're perfect for holiday baking or anytime you're craving something sweet without the fuss.

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