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October 26, 2021 By Kathryn Donangelo 19 Comments

Spice Cookies (Made with Cake Mix)

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Last Updated on November 21, 2022 by Kathryn Donangelo

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These quick and easy Spice Cake Mix Cookies are made in one bowl and 7 simple ingredients.  This doctored cake mix recipe makes soft and tender cookies that are full of delicious Fall spices and flavors. These will quickly become a new favorite!  

Other Easy Cake Mix Cookies to try: Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, and Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies!

PIN these Spice Cookies to try later!

Spice cookies with pumpkin candies on circular white plate.

SPICE COOKIES

Spice Cake Mix Cookies are packed with classic warm spice flavor and are full of texture. These make a perfect treat and luckily baking season is pretty much here! Made with a box of store-bought box spice cake mix, smooth cream cheese, and a touch of rich vanilla, these semi-homemade cookies are ridiculously addicting. 

And if you’ve been following along for awhile, you know that I am OBSESSED with cake mix cookie recipes. Not everything needs to be 100% made from scratch in order to be delicious!

These spice cookies are the best of worlds! You have cake and chewy cookies coming together into one tasty hand-held dessert – I mean what’s more ideal than that? And these cookies are perfectly spiced with a pillow-y soft center and slightly crispy edges. Roll dough balls in sugar, for added caramelization and texture! 

Spice cookies are a wonderful treat to serve during the fall or to display on your dessert table at Thanksgiving. And if you’re looking for more tasty and easy cookies to add to your sweet table this holiday season be sure to check out my soft Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles, or my Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies, and finally my sweet Gingerbread Cookie Bars for one irresistible cookie platter!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE DELICIOUS COOKIES

  • Enjoy them for breakfast, dessert, or as a snack with a cup of coffee or tea!
  • Made with cake mix so this is a great recipe if you need a quick dessert.
  • Packed with all the flavors of Fall!
  • Bake these for any occasion, parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or for a cookie exchange.

Spice Cookies with pumpkin candies on sliver platter.

INGREDIENTS

  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Box of Spice Cake mix
  • Cream cheese
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pumpkin candies
  • Sugar

Spice cake mix: One of the main ingredients. I used Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Spice Cake Mix but feel free to use any brand you can find or prefer at your local grocer. 

Cream cheese: Use brick-style cream cheese; not cream cheese spread. Full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free will work. 

Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract; not imitation. Vanilla extract provides flavor but also brings out the flavors.

HOW TO MAKE SPICE COOKIES

STEP ONE: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, mix melted butter and egg. 

STEP TWO: Combine cake mix and vanilla extract with the butter egg mixture. Beat in cream cheese. Then chill cookie dough in fridge for 30 minutes. 

spice cookie steps

STEP THREE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.

STEP FOUR: Scoop cookie dough ball into dough balls using a small cookie scoop and roll in sugar. Place onto prepared baking sheet and gently flatten. Bake for 8 minutes.  

Spice cookies with pumpkin candy on baking sheet.

STEP FIVE: Remove from oven and place candy pumpkin in center. Let the cookies cool for a couple of minutes before transfer to wire wrack. Cool completely and enjoy! 

Close up of spice cookies with pumpkin candies on silver plate.

SPICE COOKIE RECIPE VARIATIONS

  • To add more warm fall flavors and texture, add in cinnamon chips, butterscotch chips, oatmeal, and caramel bits.
  • If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free spiced cake mixes.
  • Swap out the pumpkin candy for candy corn or add in reindeer corn or Hershey’s Kisses if making this at Christmas time.
  • Add chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.
  • Instead of using butter, you could swap for 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
  • Top the cookies with a cream cheese frosting or any of your favorite frosting flavors.

Spice cookies with pumpkin candy on silver serving dish.

TIPS FOR SPICE CAKE MIX COOKIES

  • Use a small ice cream scoop to keep all your cookies the same size. This will allow for even baking and prevent the cookies from burning.
  • Make the batter up to 2 days in advance and store in the fridge until ready to bake.  
  • Do not over bake. Cookies will continue to cook once removed from oven. 
  • Allow cookies to cook for a few minutes on the cookie sheet prior to transferring to the cooling rack. They will fall apart if too warm. 

baked spice cookies with pumpkin candies on a wire wrack.

STORING LEFTOVERS

Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 7 days at room temperature. 

Spice cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months. Just bake, allow cookies to completely cool, then place in an air tight container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature before eating. 

spice cake cookies on a wire cooking wrack.

CAN I MAKE INTO A COOKIE BAR INSTEAD OF COOKIES

You sure can! I would recommend using a 13×9 inch baking dish and line with parchment paper. Once cookie dough comes together, transfer batter to baking dish press into an even layer. Sprinkle top with sugar. 

Bake for 13-16 minutes. Once removed from oven, place your pumpkin candies on the bars. Allow the dish to completely cool prior to cutting. You should get approximately 25 bars out of this recipe. 

Spice cake mix cookies with pumpkin candies on wire rack.

CAN I ADD MORE SPICE?

Of course! If you would like a more robust warm flavor, feel free to add 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, and clove.  

Hand holding spice cake mix cookie with pumpkin candy

MORE FALL INSPIRED DESSERTS TO TRY:

  • Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
  • Thanksgiving Cinnamon Roll Turkeys
  • Soft Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
  • Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
  • Apple Pie Cheesecake Bites
  • Turkey Cookies
  • Pumpkin Pie Bars 
  • Pumpkin Banana Bread Bars
  • Easy Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream with Cinnamon Crust

CAN’T GET ENOUGH?

Subscribe and I’ll send all my newest and FREE recipes to your inbox!  You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and  Facebook. If you make this recipe, please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram so I can see and feature you!

 

Spice cookies with pumpkin candies on circular white plate.

Spice Cookies (made from cake mix)

These quick and easy spice cake mix cookies are made in one bowl and  7 simple ingredients.   This doctored cake mix recipe makes soft and tender cookies that are full of subtle autumn flavors and will quickly become a fall favorite!  
4.95 from 19 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake mix cookies, cookies, spice cookies
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Kathryn Donangelo

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter; melted
  • 1 whole large egg
  • 1 box. spice cake mix; any brand
  • 4 oz. cream cheese; softened
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 24 pumpkin candies
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

  • In a large bowl mix together melted butter and egg.
  • Add in the cake mix and vanilla extract and mix with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in the cream cheese and scrape down the edges of the bowl. Place the cookie dough in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat mat.
  • Scoop cookie dough balls with a mini ice cream scoop (equivalent to 2 tablespoons). Roll into a bowl of sugar and place on cookie sheet and gently flatten with hand. Bake cookies for 8 minutes. It is ok if the cookies seem under-baked.
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and place candy pumpkin in the center of each cookie. Let cool for a few minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy!
Find Kathryn's Kitchen Blog on Instagram!Mention @Kathryns.Kitchen.Blog or tag #kathrynskitchen!

Notes

  • Leftovers: Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Spice cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.  Just bake, allow cookies to completely cool, then place in an air tight container or freezer bag.  Thaw at room temperature before eating. 
  • Make these for Christmas by adding a Hershey's Kiss or any favorite Christmas chocolate to the tops instead of pumpkins.
  • Make these into Cookie Bars by making cookie dough as you normally would and then bake it in a 13x9 inch baking pan for 13-16 minutes. Once removed from oven, place your pumpkin candies on the bars.  Allow the dish to completely cool prior to cutting.  You should get approximately 25 bars out of this recipe. 

This recipe was originally published on Oct. 26, 2021. It was republished on  July. 22, 2022, to include additional information.

Like this recipe? Then you'll love these:

  • Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies
    Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies
  • Homemade Funfetti Pancakes
    Homemade Funfetti Pancakes
  • Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
    Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
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Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts, Halloween, Holidays, Thanksgiving

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jennysg@me.com'Jenny says

    October 26, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    5 stars
    These spice cookies are great. I am a newbie and don’t bake often. I came upon your recipe, and I followed your detailed instructions and voila! The cookies taste amazing. I feel so proud! Thanks so much for this.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 27, 2021 at 3:01 pm

      You are so welcome! Thank you Jenn, I am SO glad my recipe was helpful to you and that you loved these cookies!

      Reply
  2. allylainee00@gmail.com'Allyssa says

    October 27, 2021 at 3:27 am

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing spice cookies recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 27, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      🙂 Happy to hear that! Thank you Allyssa!

      Reply
  3. homecookedharvest@gmail.com'Tristin says

    October 27, 2021 at 8:52 am

    5 stars
    My daughter was sold on making these spice cookies as soon as she saw those adorable little pumpkins on top!! They were so good that we will be making them every fall from now on.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 27, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      The pumpkins are the best part! Love that you all loved these cookies!

      Reply
  4. certifiedpastryaficionado@gmail.com'Sharon says

    October 27, 2021 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    These spice cookies are so sweet! They are the perfect easy treat for the holidays.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 27, 2021 at 3:05 pm

      🙂 Thanks Sharon!

      Reply
  5. mrivera@senseandedibility.com'Marta says

    October 27, 2021 at 7:06 pm

    5 stars
    Super cute and easy to make . They taste great too!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 28, 2021 at 6:58 am

      5 stars
      Thanks so much Marta!

      Reply
  6. GWYNNGALVIN@GMAIL.COM'Gwynn says

    October 28, 2021 at 9:27 am

    5 stars
    These cookies are so delicious and perfect for the fall season. And I love how using a cake mix makes this recipe so easy to make.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 29, 2021 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      Thank you! Cake mix cookies are my favorite and so easy!

      Reply
  7. eleramona@hotmail.com'Ramona says

    October 28, 2021 at 1:07 pm

    5 stars
    These spice cookies have the perfect sweetness and I am definitely going to be making these again! since Halloween is coming up, these will be number 1 on my list of things to bake. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to make this again!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 29, 2021 at 8:00 am

      So happy you loved them! These cookies are perfect for Halloween!

      Reply
  8. kaydimaggio@gmail.com'Kayla DiMaggio says

    October 29, 2021 at 8:14 am

    5 stars
    Loving these spice cookies! So yummy!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 30, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      Thanks Kayla!

      Reply
  9. aforkstale@gmail.com'Katie Crenshaw says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:03 am

    5 stars
    These spice cookies were so easy to make and turned out delicious! They were the perfect treat to enjoy with my morning coffee.

    Reply
  10. annie.loves.baking96@gmail.com'Annie says

    October 31, 2021 at 10:19 am

    5 stars
    I love how easy, convenient, and delicious this spice cookies recipe is! It is full of flavor and pairs perfectly with a cup of hot milk! I will definitely be making it again!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      October 31, 2021 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      Love that you loved these cookies! Thank you Annie!

      Reply

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