Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
If you’re looking for a super fun and utterly delicious treat to whip up in no time, you’re going to adore this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. These cookies are like little bursts of joy—colorful, sweet, and soft, with that perfect balance of cake mix magic and sprinkles that just scream celebration. Trust me, once you try making these, they’ll become your new go-to cookie for every party, snack, or just because you deserve a treat kind of day.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simplicity Meets Fun: Using cake mix streamlines the cookie dough prep without sacrificing flavor or texture.
- Perfect Texture: Adding baking powder and chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and keeps cookies soft and cakey.
- Customizable Frosting: The cream cheese frosting adds a tangy richness you can tint and pipe for that bakery-style look.
- Sprinkle Strategy: Double sprinkling—both in the dough and on the frosting—delivers that iconic confetti look and a playful crunch.
Ingredients & Why They Work
What I love about this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is how the ingredients come together so effortlessly for a sweet, soft, and colorful cookie experience. Each component has its role, making sure you get that funfetti vibe without any hassle.

- Eggs: They bind the dough perfectly and add richness.
- Vegetable or Canola Oil: Keeps the cookies moist and tender—plus, it’s neutral tasting so the sprinkles shine.
- Cake Mix (white or confetti): The heart of the recipe—choose a quality brand like Duncan Hines or Pillsbury for best flavor and texture.
- Baking Powder: Adds lift so cookies don’t turn out flat and crazy spread out.
- Rainbow Sprinkles or Jimmies: For that iconic confetti effect—quality sprinkles avoid color bleeding for a prettier cookie.
- Unsalted Butter (for frosting): Gives the frosting richness and body without overwhelming sweetness.
- Cream Cheese: Adds tang and smoothness to the frosting, balancing the cookie’s sweetness.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: For that silky smooth frosting texture.
- Vanilla Extract and Salt: These boost and balance both cookie and frosting flavors.
- Food Coloring (optional): Personalize the frosting color for any occasion or mood.
Tweak to Your Taste
Personally, I love how versatile this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is. Some days, I go classic with white cake mix and rainbow sprinkles. Other times, I switch it up with funfetti variations or add a splash of almond extract to the frosting for a little twist. Don’t be afraid to experiment—you’ll find your own perfect combo.
- Flavor Variation: I once swapped vanilla for lemon extract in the frosting for a bright punch, which my whole family loved. You could also add cocoa powder for a chocolate version.
- Dietary Adjustments: For a dairy-free option, try coconut oil in cookies and vegan cream cheese in frosting; results are tasty, but the texture differs slightly.
- Sprinkles Substitution: If you want to avoid artificial colors, use natural sprinkles or chopped toasted nuts for crunch without the color burst.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up the Cookie Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepping your baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats—this is important to prevent sticking and help cookies bake evenly. In a big bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until smooth. Add the cake mix and baking powder, stirring gently just until everything is combined. Then fold in your rainbow sprinkles carefully—you don’t want to overmix or the colors might bleed. For best results, pop the dough in the fridge for about an hour. I learned this little chilling step is the secret for keeping the cookies from sprawling all over the pan!
Step 2: Scoop and Bake
I like to use a large cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons) to portion out the dough—these cookies really deserve being chunky and generous. Place each mound on your baking sheets, spacing them so they won’t smash into each other while baking. I found 6 cookies per sheet is perfect. Bake one sheet at a time in the middle rack. If you bake two at once, swap the pans and rotate halfway through to ensure even cooking. Nine minutes is the sweet spot; don’t worry if they look a bit soft or underdone—cookies keep setting up as they cool.
Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, it’s time to whip up that luscious frosting. Beat softened butter and cream cheese on high until light and fluffy—this usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes and is key for a smooth texture. Gradually add the sifted confectioners’ sugar along with vanilla and a pinch of salt, mixing on low then high speed until velvety. If you want to get fancy, drop in some food coloring a little at a time to reach your perfect hue—pink is my favorite for that authentic funfetti look!
Step 4: Frost and Sprinkle
Transfer your frosting to a piping bag or a ziptop bag with a small cut corner—this makes decorating more fun and precise. Pipe a neat swirl starting from the center outward, or simply spread with a knife if you’re keeping it casual. Don’t forget to sprinkle with a colorful handful of confetti sprinkles right on top—it makes these cookies look as good as they taste!
Pro Tips for Making Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
- Chill the Dough: It really cuts down cookie spreading and enhances flavor melding.
- Use Quality Sprinkles: I prefer trusted brands like Betty Crocker or Wilton to avoid bleeding colors in batter and frosting.
- Bake One Sheet at a Time: This ensures the best heat distribution and uniform bake, but if you bake two, swap racks and rotate pans halfway through.
- Don’t Overbake: Cookies look softer when you pull them out, but they firm up as they cool—this keeps them tender and cakey.
How to Serve Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Garnishes
I usually keep it classic with extra rainbow sprinkles on top, but sometimes I add edible glitter or mini sugar pearls to fancy them up for birthdays or celebrations. Fresh berries on the side add a nice pop of freshness if you want a contrast to all that sweetness.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a frothy latte. For a party, try serving alongside colorful cupcakes or a tier of fresh fruit—it keeps the whole table looking bright and festive.
Creative Ways to Present
I once arranged these confetti cookies on a colorful cake stand with matching pastel napkins and fun paper straws for a kid’s party. Another time, I stacked frosted cookies tied with a ribbon as a sweet guest favor—you can’t go wrong with such an eye-catching treat to brighten any occasion.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep mine in an airtight container at room temperature, layering cookies carefully to avoid messing up the frosting. They stay fresh and soft for 2-3 days this way, but honestly, they rarely last that long around here!
Freezing
I’ve frozen the baked but unfrosted cookies wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil with great success—up to 2 months. Once you’re ready, just thaw them at room temperature before frosting and serving.
Reheating
To refresh cookies after storage, a quick 5-second zap in the microwave softens them nicely without drying out. Just avoid reheating frosted cookies since the frosting can melt or separate.
FAQs
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Can I use any cake mix for the Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe?
You definitely can! White or confetti cake mixes work best because they offer a neutral base and classic flavor that complements the sprinkles and frosting. Avoid mixes with added fillings or frostings, as they can alter the dough texture.
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How do I prevent the sprinkles from bleeding into the dough or frosting?
Using high-quality sprinkles like Betty Crocker or Wilton helps minimize color bleeding. Also, fold the sprinkles gently into the dough rather than overmixing, and only add sprinkles to the frosting just before serving.
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Can I skip chilling the dough?
While you can skip it, chilling the dough for at least an hour helps control spreading and improves texture significantly. If you’re short on time, just be mindful to space cookies well apart on the baking sheet.
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Is there an easy shortcut for the frosting?
Absolutely! If you want to save time, you can use store-bought cream cheese frosting like Duncan Hines Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s tasty and spreads nicely but can’t be piped as cleanly as homemade.
Final Thoughts
This Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe has quickly become one of my favorite quick-bake sweets when I want that homemade party vibe without the fuss. The soft, cakey cookies studded with sprinkles and topped with creamy frosting truly brighten up any day—or celebration. I hope you enjoy making and eating them as much as I do! Give it a try, and I promise, these cookies will bring smiles to your kitchen and beyond.
Print
Confetti Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 24 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in these colorful Confetti Cake Mix Cookies topped with creamy Funfetti Frosting. Made with a boxed cake mix for ease, these cookies are soft, festive, and perfect for celebrations or everyday treats. The recipe includes tips for baking perfection and optional homemade or store-bought frosting for convenience.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1 sixteen-ounce box cake mix, white or confetti
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles or jimmies
Funfetti Frosting
- 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
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Food coloring of choice, optional
- 1/4 cup confetti sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with Silpat baking mats, parchment paper, or lightly spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and oil until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in the cake mix and baking powder until just combined, then fold in the rainbow sprinkles gently to avoid bleeding colors.
- Chill Dough: For best results, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour to reduce spreading, though this is optional.
- Scoop Cookies: Using a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop or two tablespoons, form cookie dough mounds and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheets, baking no more than six cookies per sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake one sheet at a time on the middle rack for 9 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. If baking two sheets together, swap racks and rotate pans 180 degrees midway.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes until set enough to transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Beat softened butter and cream cheese on high for 3 to 4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat from low to high speed until smooth. Add food coloring dropwise if desired, mixing until the preferred shade is reached.
- Frost Cookies: Transfer frosting into a zip-top bag or piping bag with a tip or spread with a knife. Pipe or spread frosting starting at the center of each cookie in a circular motion outward.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle confetti sprinkles evenly atop the frosted cookies. Store airtight at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Avoid freezing frosted cookies.
Notes
- Use name-brand sprinkles like Betty Crocker or Wilton to reduce bleeding in the batter and frosting.
- Cookie dough can be chilled for an hour to minimize spreading but it’s optional.
- Bake only six cookies per sheet to avoid crowding and uneven baking.
- Rotate baking sheets 180 degrees and swap racks if baking two sheets simultaneously to ensure even baking.
- For convenience, swap homemade frosting with store-bought Duncan Hines Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting for spreading, though it cannot be piped.
- Store cookies in a single layer to prevent frosting transfer and mess.
- Unfrosted baked cookies freeze well for up to 2 months.
- To make these cookies from scratch, use a softbatch funfetti-inspired cookie recipe with 3 tbsp dough mounds and bake around 10 minutes, watching carefully to avoid overbaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg


