Easy Christmas Crinkle Cookies
Brighten up your holiday dessert spread with Christmas Crinkle Cookies—the perfect combination of soft, chewy sweetness and festive charm.
These delightful treats are not only easy to make but also irresistible, disappearing as fast as you can serve them!
Whether you’re hosting a cozy family gathering or attending a holiday party, these cookies bring the magic of Christmas to every bite. Their vibrant red and green hues, dusted in snowy powdered sugar, will make them the highlight of your dessert table.
Festive Ingredients for Christmas Crinkle Cookies
White cake mix – The base of this recipe, ensuring a soft and moist texture in every cookie.
Eggs – Bind the dough together and add richness to the cookies.
Vegetable oil – Provides moisture and keeps the cookies delightfully chewy.
Vanilla extract – A classic flavor enhancer that adds warmth and depth.
Red and green food coloring gel – The stars of this recipe, bringing festive colors to life.
Powdered sugar – Coats the dough balls, creating the signature crinkle effect during baking.
How to Create the Magic: Step-by-Step Guide
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Combine cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl until a smooth dough forms.
Divide the dough into two bowls. Add red food coloring to one and green food coloring to the other, mixing until vibrant.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, coat them generously with powdered sugar, and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 9–11 minutes until the cookies are set, and the powdered sugar creates the crinkle effect.
Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Perfect Christmas Crinkle Cookies
For best results, make sure the food coloring is evenly mixed for uniform color. Chilling the dough is crucial; it not only makes the dough easier to work with but also helps the cookies maintain their structure and achieve that signature crinkle texture. If the dough feels sticky, a small amount of flour can make rolling the balls easier.
Storing Your Holiday Treats
To keep your cookies fresh and chewy, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. These cookies can also be frozen in a single layer before being transferred to a container or freezer bag, where they’ll stay good for up to three months. When ready to serve, let them thaw at room temperature for 15–20 minutes.
Enjoy the festive season with these vibrant and delicious Christmas Crinkle Cookies—they’re sure to be a holiday favorite!
Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box white cake mix
- 2 eggs
- Red and green food coloring gel
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, stirring until a dough forms.
- Divide the dough evenly into two small bowls. Add red food coloring to one portion and green food coloring to the other, mixing thoroughly until the colors are vibrant and consistent.
- Chill the colored dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to enhance its workability and improve the cookies’ texture.
- Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to portion the dough. Roll each piece into a ball, then coat generously in powdered sugar. If the dough is too sticky to handle, incorporate about one tablespoon of flour into the mixture and mix well.
- Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving adequate space for spreading.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the cookies have set and the crinkle pattern has formed.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 1 to 2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For fluffier cookies, do not skip the chilling step.
Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.