Fall baking is my happy place: cozy spices, a warm oven, and a quiet moment with a cookie before the after-school rush. These 3-ingredient spice cake mix cookies capture autumn in every bite without any pumpkin puree required. Start with a simple box of spice cake mix—my go-to shortcut for stress-free baking—and you’ll end up with soft, chewy cookies that taste like the season. If you enjoy easy mix-based treats, these deliver big on flavor with minimal effort.
TL;DR – Spice Cake Cookies
- 🧡 Why you’ll love them: Soft, cozy, and perfectly spiced—these cookies deliver fall flavor with almost no fuss.
- #️⃣ Ingredients: 3
- ⏲️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Bake Time: 8–12 minutes, depending on cookie size
- 🍰 Substitution tip: If you don’t have spice cake mix, use a yellow cake mix and add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon plus ½ teaspoon ground ginger for a similar warm profile.
- 🍂 Serving ideas: Serve warm with coffee, pack in lunchboxes, or sandwich two cookies around cream cheese frosting for an indulgent treat.
Tip: These cookies make great bases for sandwich cookies—see the fillings section below for ideas.
Key Ingredients
- Boxed spice cake mix: Use a standard 15–16 oz box. Any brand works—look for a spiced or pumpkin-spice labeled mix for the best autumn flavor.
- Vegetable oil: ½ cup provides tender, chewy cookies. You can substitute melted butter or coconut oil for a different flavor.
- Eggs: Two large eggs bind the dough and give structure.
Fun Additions
Keep the recipe simple, or dress the cookies up a bit. A few small additions transform the cookies into special treats without much extra work.
- Roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar before baking for a snickerdoodle-style finish
- Stir in butterscotch or cinnamon chips for extra pockets of flavor
- Dip half the cooled cookie in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with sanding sugar
- Make large cookies and top with a swirl of cream cheese frosting for a bakery-style treat
Make Spice Cake Sandwich Cookies
Spice cake evokes carrot cake and cream cheese frosting—so these cookies love a frosting partner.
Try any of these fillings between two cookies: pumpkin butter, apple butter, cream cheese frosting, cinnamon swirl buttercream, or chocolate-hazelnut spread. For sandwich cookies, plan on about 2 cups of filling for a batch.
🩶 Marni
How to make spice cake cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil.
Step 2: Stir until no dry streaks of mix remain. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
Step 3: Use a cookie scoop for even portions and place dough on the prepared tray, leaving about 2 inches between each.
Step 4: Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes, or until the tops show small cracks and the edges are set but centers remain soft. Let cool on the baking sheet for 3–5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm or fully cooled.
Recipe FAQs
Can I add mix-ins to these spice cake cookies?
Yes. White chocolate chips, chopped pecans, butterscotch chips, or dried cranberries work well. Fold them in gently so the dough holds its texture.
Do I need to chill the dough?
No. This dough can be scooped and baked immediately, which is part of what makes the recipe so fast and convenient.
How should I store the cookies?
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If they’re frosted, separate layers with parchment or wax paper.
Other Desserts from Boxed Baking Mixes
-
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pudding Pie (requires chilling) -
Fudgy Brownie Bites (2-bite brownies from a box mix)
-
4-Ingredient Cake Mix Hanukkah Cookies
-
One-Bowl All Bran Muffins (7 ingredients)
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Spice Cake Mix Cookies
By Marni Katz
Soft, chewy, and full of cozy fall flavor, these cookies require no mixer, no chill time, and very little hands-on prep. Toss the ingredients together, scoop, and bake.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: About 24 cookies
Calories: ~141 kcal per cookie
Ingredients
- 1 box (15–16 oz) spice cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter/coconut oil)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Stir until the batter is uniform and no dry mix remains.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion dough onto the prepared sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart.
- Bake 8–10 minutes, until the tops show small cracks and edges are set. Avoid overbaking to keep cookies soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Cooling: If you plan to fill or frost the cookies, make sure they are completely cool before assembling. Freezing: Baked cookies freeze well for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
Nutrition (approx. per cookie)
Calories: 141 kcal • Carbohydrates: 16 g • Fat: 8 g • Protein: 1 g • Sugar: 10 g
Tried this recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments below.