When I was twenty I got really into making cookies and working on baking the perfect cookie. While I loved making them I also loved giving them to family and friends for when they’d travel for a vacation. It felt so quaint and 1950’s 😍
One time my mom, dad and brother were going to pick up my brothers car that broke down outside of Chicago. For reference we lived 5 hours away in Cincinnati. I baked some chocolate chip cookies from scratch and they were soft and full. I remember putting in m&ms too, and for some reason I think I referred to them as Shrek cookies. Maybe they were Shrek themed M&Ms? On the way back from Chicago my parents and brother fishtailed with his car on a trailer and my mother refused to continue on the trip because it was a really scary experience. She booked into a hotel and she said her dinner was cookies and her breakfast was cookies 😍 I was shocked to hear about the ordeal with the car fishtailing but happy to have provided her with a little comfort, and while not nutritious at least something of substance for such a short notice stay!
So needless to say I do still love to make cookies before a trip – because you never know! I don’t always have time to make that soft chewy cookie from scratch but a great alternative is using cake mix! This is an easy recipe that still gives off, “made from scratch” vibes without all the ingredients and mess to clean up.
To create a thick and still soft cookie I like to add a little bit of extra flour- this is totally optional since cake mix is pretty forgiving! It’s a total preference thing and without the extra flour your cookie will just be a little thinner. The only other things you’ll need beyond cake mix is 2 large eggs and any mix in you’d like. I kept mine simple this time with sprinkles but you could mix in chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, etc. If you use chocolate chips start with the same measurement as I did with the sprinkles and then decide if you’d like more chocolate chips or not! Sometimes I double it! 🤤
Gather your ingredients!
Mix them all up!
I used a spoon to get chunks out and rolled them in my hands to create a lil ole ball. Then I placed it on my parchment lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart and placed it in my preheated 350 degree F oven and waited about 9 minutes. Then I took them out, let them cool a moment on the sheet and then transferred them to a cooling rack with a spatula.
Once they were cooled I went to town on decorating them! They look real professional right?! I just used store bought Betty Crocker cookie icing so I could stack them later! Also. It’s absolutely July and I couldn’t believe when I was looking at the cookie icing that the sugar candy canes were hanging behind some happy birthday sugar decorations. When it rang up it was 19 cents 😂 How had it been overlooked for 6-7 months? My lucky day though! And they were still delicious and crispy!
Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box of 15 oz Cake Mix of choice
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of sprinkles (or other mix in!)
- Cookie Icing
- Parchment Paper
Directions
- Preheat your over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Combine all ingredients until it becomes fully incorporated and is a bit sticky
- Using a spoon or scoop, get out a chunk of dough to make a 2″ ball of dough, rolling it in your hands to form a ball
- Place dough balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Bake 9-10 minutes or until sides start to brown slightly
- Let cool on the cookie sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack
- Decorate with Cookie Icing or Enjoy as is!
We did go out of town this weekend so it was perfect timing to make these cookies and pack them up in a tin. Because ya never know!
Is there a special treat you always make before a trip? How are you celebrating Christmas in July? If you loved this post, help me keep my blog ad free by buying me a coffee! Use that link or click on the blue button on the side bar that says, Buy Me a Coffee!
Happy Christmas in July!
Xoxo
-Robin
