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; 1 box (16 ounces) white or confetti cake mix; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles or jimmies; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 4 ounces original brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 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 or jimmies as substitute

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 34 reviews

If you’re craving a fun, colorful twist on cookies that’s both easy and utterly delicious, you’re going to love this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. Made with just a handful of ingredients and topped with the most dreamy cream cheese frosting, these cookies are like little bites of celebration. Whether you’re baking for a party or just to sprinkle some joy into your day, I promise this recipe will become your go-to favorite!

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Why This Recipe Works

Simplicity Meets Fun: Using cake mix as a base makes these cookies quick and foolproof without skimping on flavor.
Moist, Soft Texture: The addition of oil and eggs keeps the cookies tender and soft, just like a perfect cake.
Customizable Frosting: The cream cheese frosting complements the cookie’s sweetness beautifully while letting you add your own color and flair.
Gorgeous Rainbow Sprinkles: Those colorful pops ensure every bite feels festive and look irresistible.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful cookie recipes, easy cake mix cookies, soft and moist cookies, festive dessert ideas - 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

Each ingredient in this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe plays a role in delivering that soft, perfectly sweet bite with vibrant sprinkles throughout. Let me walk you through why these ingredients make the magic happen, and some handy tips for shopping and prep.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful cookie recipes, easy cake mix cookies, soft and moist cookies, festive dessert ideas - 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: Eggs give structure and moisture, balancing the cake mix’s sweetness.
Vegetable or canola oil: Adds fat for tenderness and keeps the cookies soft longer; neutral flavor is key here.
Cake mix (white or confetti): The base of the cookie, loaded with flavor and just the right amount of sweetness — confetti mix adds those festive dots right in!
Baking powder: Helps give your cookies a little extra rise and fluffiness, preventing them from getting too dense.
Rainbow sprinkles or jimmies: This is the surprise party inside the cookie; I recommend choosing good quality sprinkles that don’t bleed color too much.
Unsalted butter: Essential for the frosting’s creaminess and helps you control salt levels in the final taste.
Cream cheese (original brick-style): The star in the frosting for tang and that rich, silky texture — avoid spreadable or whipped varieties for best results.
Confectioners’ sugar: Sweetens the frosting smoothly and helps it set perfectly.
Vanilla extract: Lifts and rounds out the flavor in the frosting.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
Optional food coloring: Just a fun way to make your frosting match birthday themes or personal style.
Additional confetti sprinkles: For garnishing and that final joyful pop of color.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how versatile this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is — it invites creativity! Over time, I’ve tried a few tweaks that you might enjoy too, depending on your mood or dietary preferences.

Gluten-Free Variation: Use a gluten-free cake mix and gluten-free sprinkles to make these friendly for gluten sensitivities, ensuring the same soft texture.
Healthier Swap: I sometimes swap the oil for avocado or melted coconut oil for a slight twist in flavor and a cleaner fat profile.
Extra Chocolate Fun: Add mini chocolate chips or chunks to the batter for a chocolate-confetti mashup — divine if you’re a chocoholic.
Colorful Frosting: Don’t hesitate to add gel food coloring to your frosting to match party themes — pink, blue, even rainbow swirls if you’re feeling fancy!

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

Step 1: Prep Your Workspace and Ingredients

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat mats. This prevents sticking and helps your cookies bake evenly. I like to do this early because once the dough hits the fridge, you want to start baking as soon as possible! Get your eggs, oil, cake mix, sprinkles, and baking powder ready so you can mix smoothly.

Step 2: Mix the Cookie Dough Gently

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until smooth. Then stir in your cake mix and baking powder just until combined. Now fold in the rainbow sprinkles carefully — you want them to stay intact and spread through the dough, not bleed too much. A quick tip: I place my mixing bowl in the fridge for about an hour before scooping, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.

Step 3: Scoop and Bake Like a Pro

Use a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop or two tablespoons to form even mounds of dough. Space them generously on the baking sheets — about six per sheet works best. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. If your oven’s unpredictable like mine, bake only one sheet at a time or swap racks and rotate pans to ensure even browning. Remember, the cookies might look a little underdone when you pull them out, but they’ll continue to set perfectly while cooling.

Step 4: Whip Up That Dreamy Frosting

While the cookies cool, beat your softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until light and fluffy—this usually takes about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl, then add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and optionally your food coloring. Beat again until smooth and creamy, perfect for piping or spreading. I love transferring it to a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off to pipe neat little swirls, but a simple knife spread works just fine too.

Step 5: Frost and Sprinkle the Finishing Touch

Start piping or spreading the frosting on the completely cooled cookies. For that signature confetti look, sprinkle a few more colorful sprinkles on top right away so they stick beautifully. If you want to save money and reduce clutter, opt for rainbow sprinkles that work both in the dough and as garnish — it’s a trick I’ve used many times.

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Pro Tips for Making Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Chill, Chill, Chill: Don’t skip chilling your dough — it really helps control spreading so your cookies stay thick and soft.
Oven Awareness: Every oven bakes differently, so keep an eye on the first batch and adjust time or rack positions accordingly.
Sprinkle Selection: Use high-quality sprinkles like Wilton or Betty Crocker to avoid color bleeding in the dough or frosting.
Don’t Overbake: Even if they look a little soft coming out, the cookies firm up as they cool — overbaking makes them dry.

How to Serve Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, colorful cookie recipes, easy cake mix cookies, soft and moist cookies, festive dessert ideas - 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 often garnish these cookies simply with colorful sprinkles as described, but sometimes I add an extra whimsical touch with edible glitter or pearlized sugar crystals for a little sparkle when I’m serving for celebrations. It’s a small step that really impresses guests and makes the moment more festive.

Side Dishes

These cookies are sweet and rich enough to stand alone, but I like to pair them with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a cup of bright, fruity tea — think raspberry or hibiscus — which balances their sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthday parties or baby showers, I’ve laid these out on colorful cake stands or arranged them in tiers with fresh flowers and confetti scattered around. Another fun idea is to wrap a few cookies individually in clear cellophane tied with bright ribbon to give as sweet favors — guests always love that personal touch!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once frosted, I keep these cookies in a single layer in an airtight container stored at room temperature to keep that soft texture intact — stacking usually smushes the frosting. They stay fresh this way for 2 to 3 days. If you prefer cooler treats, the fridge works too, and they’ll keep for up to 5 days, but I find refrigeration can sometimes dry them out a bit.

Freezing

If you want to freeze, I recommend doing so before frosting — scoop and freeze the raw dough balls on a tray first, then transfer them to an airtight container or zip-top bag. These will keep in the freezer up to 2 months. When ready, thaw the dough in the fridge, then bake fresh and frost after cooling for best results.

Reheating

Reheat leftover cookies briefly in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to get that fresh-baked warmth back—just don’t overdo it or the frosting might melt too much. If refrigerated, letting them sit at room temperature for a bit before eating also softens them nicely.

FAQs

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

You sure can! White or confetti cake mix works best to keep the cookies light and colorful, but if you want to experiment, chocolate or vanilla will also work, just keep in mind the flavor and color might change. I like to stick with white or funfetti for the classic look and taste.
Why do my sprinkles bleed into the batter or frosting?

This happens when sprinkles aren’t made to hold their color during baking or mixing. To prevent bleeding, choose high-quality or “no bleed” brand sprinkles like Wilton or Betty Crocker. Also, folding sprinkles gently into the batter and adding fresh sprinkles on top after frosting helps keep the colors bright.
Can I skip the frosting or use a store-bought alternative?

Definitely! You can enjoy these cookies plain if you prefer, though the frosting adds that dreamy, tangy sweetness. If you want an easy shortcut, I often use Duncan Hines Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting from the store, which tastes surprisingly close to homemade and spreads easily.
How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the cookie dough in the fridge for at least an hour before baking is a huge help. Also, avoid crowding the baking sheets and bake on the middle rack for even heat distribution. Using parchment or silicone baking mats also helps cookies hold their shape better.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe quickly became one of my favorite sweets to whip up when I want something quick, cheerful, and downright tasty. They’re not only simple enough for beginner bakers but also feel special enough to share with family and friends. I hope you enjoy making (and eating!) them as much as I do — they bring an instant smile with every colorful bite.