I’m making a bold statement – these are the ultimate cookies to leave out for Santa this year! You might have already seen the Christmas morning muffins that I shared earlier in the week, and if you’re looking for another treat to make over the festive period, these cute cookies definitely need to go on your list.

They’re soft, chewy, and full of that nostalgic cake batter flavor, thanks to a mix of flour and vanilla cake mix. White chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles get folded right into the dough for extra sweetness and color, and after baking, each cookie gets topped with a swirl of fluffy cake batter frosting and more sprinkles for good measure.

The dough comes together quickly, then chills before baking so the cookies stay thick and chewy in the oven. Once cooled, a generous swirl of frosting takes them completely over the top. They’re the kind of cookies that look as fun as they taste, and I think you’re going to love making them!

Ingredients

In a hurry? You can scroll on down to find the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post! I highly recommend that you read the next few sections though, to help you to understand a little more about how these cookies are made and how to get the best results first time.

Flour – The base of the cookies that balances out the sweetness from the cake mix.
White cake mix – Adds that unmistakable cake batter flavor and gives the cookies a soft, chewy texture.
Baking soda & salt – Classic cookie essentials that help with rise and balance the sweetness.
Butter – Make sure it’s softened to room temperature so it creams smoothly with the sugars and creates that fluffy base.
Granulated sugar & brown sugar – The mix of the two gives you sweetness plus just the right amount of chew.
Egg – Binds the dough and adds richness.
Vanilla extract & cake batter extract – The dream team of flavor here. Vanilla rounds things out, while the cake batter extract gives that fun birthday-cake vibe.
White chocolate chips – Sweet, creamy pops of chocolate in every bite.
Christmas sprinkles – For a festive look and a little crunch — don’t skimp on these, they’re what make the cookies party-ready.

For the frosting:

Butter – Softened so it whips up light and fluffy.
Powdered sugar – Creates a smooth, sweet, cloud-like frosting.
Cake batter extract – Doubles down on that fun cake batter flavor and makes the cookies extra special.

How To Make Cake Batter Christmas Cookies

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cake mix, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
In another bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla, and cake batter extract, then mix until everything’s well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Fold in the white chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours — don’t skip this step, it helps the cookies bake up thick and chewy.
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop about 2 ½ tablespoons of dough per cookie, shaping into balls that are slightly taller than they are wide.

Bake for 13–15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft — that’s how you get that perfect chewy texture.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, make the frosting: beat the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, then mix in the extract.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, whipping until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Pipe onto the cooled cookies, top with extra Christmas sprinkles, and serve!

Recipe Notes & Tips

Chill the dough – Don’t skip this part! Chilling keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, which means they bake up nice and thick with that perfect chewy bite.
Slightly underbake – Pull the cookies when the edges are just set but the centers still look soft. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool, leaving you with the best chewy texture.
Use room temperature butter – Softened butter is key for creaming the sugars into a smooth, fluffy dough and for making frosting that whips up light and airy.
Frost when cool – Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before adding frosting, otherwise it’ll slide right off.
Extra festive – Add a pinch of sprinkles to the tops of the dough balls before baking for cookies that look just as fun and colorful as they taste.

Substitutions & Variations

Cake mix – Switch it up with Funfetti, white, or even chocolate cake mix if you want a different flavor twist.
Extracts – No cake batter extract? Use almond or peppermint extract for a holiday spin, or just double up on vanilla.
White chocolate chips – Semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips all work — mix and match if you like!
Frosting – Skip the cake batter frosting and use cream cheese frosting or classic vanilla buttercream instead.
Sprinkles – Trade out the Christmas sprinkles for any holiday or celebration. Think hearts for Valentine’s Day, pastel sprinkles for Easter, or red, white, and blue for the 4th of July.

Serving Ideas

These cookies are made for holiday fun! Serve them at Christmas parties, tuck them onto a cookie platter, or bring them to a cookie swap where they’re guaranteed to stand out.

They’re also perfect for leaving out for Santa on Christmas Eve, and the frosting and sprinkles make them extra magical.

If you’re hosting a holiday brunch, set them alongside coffee, hot cocoa, or even a festive cocktail for a sweet treat. They’re just as fun to bake with the kids on a snowy afternoon when you need a little Christmas spirit.

Print Recipe

Cake Batter Christmas Cookies

Soft, chewy, and loaded with sprinkles, these Cake Batter Christmas Cookies are a holiday must-bake! Made with a mix of flour and cake mix for that sweet cake batter flavor, then topped with fluffy frosting and extra sprinkles. Perfect for cookie swaps, holiday parties, or leaving out for Santa.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Dessert

Servings:

Ingredients

1 1/3 cup flour
1 1/4 cup boxed white cake mix
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter softened to room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cake batter extract
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup christmas sprinkles plus more for topping

Frosting

1 cup butter softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cake batter extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cake mix, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
In another bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, vanilla, and cake batter extract, then mix until everything’s well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Fold in the white chocolate chips and Christmas sprinkles.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours — don’t skip this step, it helps the cookies bake up thick and chewy.
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop about 2 ½ tablespoons of dough per cookie, shaping into balls that are slightly taller than they are wide.
Bake for 13–15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft — that’s how you get that perfect chewy texture.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, make the frosting: beat the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, then mix in the extract.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, whipping until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Pipe onto the cooled cookies, top with extra Christmas sprinkles, and serve!

Whether you’re leaving them out for Santa, making them for guests, or just need a fun project to keep the kids busy on a snowy day, these cookies are so much fun! If you make them, I’d love to see the pics. You can tag me on Instagram @slimmingviolet, and don’t forget to leave a quick comment below!