Drop the confetti, these Chocolate Cake Mix Cool Whip Cookies are here to steal the holiday show! Made with just a handful of ingredients, they practically bake themselves (ok... not really, but close!) They are the perfect combination of rich chocolate with a light, fluffy texture.
Why you'll love chocolate cake mix cool whip cookies
- Only 6 simple ingredients.
- Soft, chewy cookies with a crackly powdered sugar coating.
- No measuring flour or cocoa powder.
- Great for holiday cookie trays and cookie exchanges.
- Easy enough for beginner bakers.
- Ready in about 40 minutes.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cool Whip Cookies
Equipment
- Baking sheets or cookie sheets
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 box 15.25 oz of dark chocolate cake mix (use a high quality cake mix)
- 8 ounce tub of Cool Whip thawed
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling
- 1 cup peppermint candy crushed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and Cool Whip together until smooth and creamy. This helps ensure there are no lumps of cream cheese in the batter.
- After the cream cheese and Cool Whip are well-blended, add the cake mix and egg. Mix until just combined. The dough will still be VERY sticky. Place in the refrigerator and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
- Place the powdered sugar in a small shallow bowl. Scoop out the dough and roll in powdered sugar. (I used gloves for this step). Place the sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Light press on top of the dough to flatten it just a smidge.
- Sprinkle the top of the dough with the crushed peppermint candy.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies have a light crackled surface. They should still be soft in the center.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
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What you'll need: ingredients
The printable recipe card below includes the full ingredient list, exact measurements, and step-by-step instructions so you can bake these Chocolate Cake Mix Cool Whip Cookies with confidence.
- dark chocolate cake mix - Use dark chocolate cake mix rather than Devil's Food for the richest chocolate flavor.
- Cool Whip - I recommend the name brand because it consistently gives the cookies the soft texture I was after during testing.
- softened cream cheese
- large egg
- powdered sugar
- peppermint candy - Crushed candy canes or Starlight mints would work.
Creative variations to try
- Try using the Andes peppermint chips in these cookies instead of peppermint candy pieces for a delicious extra minty flavor.
- Frost the cookies with cream cheese frosting THEN sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
- You can also stir in chocolate chips or even peppermint chocolate chips into the cookie dough.
- You can also use different cake mix flavors, such as red velvet cake mix, or even a Christmas funfetti cake mix for extra flare.
- Roll in crushed peppermint AND powdered sugar.
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate after cooling.
- Leave off the peppermint for an everyday chocolate cookie.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
The dough is supposed to be very sticky. Chilling it for at least 30 minutes makes it much easier to scoop and roll in powdered sugar.
Yes. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours before baking.
No. The peppermint is optional. Without it you'll have a delicious soft chocolate cookie that's perfect any time of year.
A generous coating of powdered sugar and properly chilled dough help create that classic crackled appearance as the cookies bake.
Deb's test kitchen notes
I first tried spraying my hands and cookie scoop with cooking spray, but it only worked for one or two cookies before everything became sticky again. Dusting my hands with powdered sugar worked much better and made rolling the dough much easier.
I baked these on parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, and directly on a nonstick cookie sheet. Parchment paper gave me the easiest cleanup and the cookies released beautifully every time.
Make sure the Cool Whip is completely thawed and the cream cheese is softened before mixing. Cold ingredients leave little lumps that never completely disappear.
Why use Cool Whip in cookies?
Cool Whip helps create an incredibly soft, fluffy cookie without adding extra butter or oil. Combined with cream cheese and cake mix, it produces a tender cookie with a chewy center and beautifully crackled top after baking.
Best way to store your cookies
Storage - Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. I recommend that you keep a slice of fresh bread in the container with your cookies as this will help keep them nice and soft.
Freezer - You can also freeze these delicious cookies. I like to wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. Thaw on the counter for about 30 minutes before enjoying.
More holiday cookies you'll love
If these Chocolate Cake Mix Cool Whip Cookies disappear as quickly as they do at my house, you'll definitely want to add a few more cookies to your holiday baking list! For chocolate and mint lovers, Mint Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies are light, crisp, and full of festive flavor. Looking for another easy shortcut recipe? Cake Mix Snickerdoodle Cookies and Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies start with a boxed cake mix, making holiday baking quick and fun.
And if you're planning a full cookie baking day, click here for all of our holiday cookies and treats for even more festive favorites everyone will love.
Chocolate cake mix Cool Whip cookies are always a holiday favorite!
These easy cookies are proof that simple ingredients can make something truly special. They're rich, chocolatey, wonderfully soft, and always one of the first treats to disappear from the cookie tray. Whether you're baking for Christmas, a cookie exchange, or simply satisfying a chocolate craving, this recipe is one you'll find yourself making again and again.
When you bake these Chocolate Cake Mix Cool Whip Cookies, I'd love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know if you kept them classic or tried one of the fun variations.
Anita Faircloth says
Best cookie I've ever tasted with peppermint Thank you. Merry Christmas ⛄🎁🎄🌴
Debra Clark says
Awesome, glad you enjoyed the cookie recipe! Merry Christmas Anita, thanks for stopping by to leave your review!!