Name: Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 1 h 24 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 large eggs; ⅓ cup vegetable or canola oil; 1 box (16 ounces) white or confetti cake mix; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles or jimmies; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 4 ounces original brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted if lumpy; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon salt; Food coloring of choice (optional); ¼ cup confetti sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles or jimmies for garnish

Jump to Recipe· 4.7 from 10 reviews

Hey friend, I’m so excited to share this super fun and utterly delicious Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe that I know you’re going to adore! These cookies are like little bites of celebration—soft, colorful, and topped with that tangy, dreamy cream cheese frosting that makes everything better. Whether you’re baking for a party, a cozy weekend treat, or just because, this recipe hits all the right sweet spots. Stay with me, and I’ll walk you through everything to nail this treat perfectly!

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Why This Recipe Works

Simplicity Meets Celebration: Using cake mix as the base means you get the perfect soft, moist texture every time with less fuss.
Cream Cheese Frosting Magic: The tangy, creamy frosting elevates these cookies from good to unforgettable indulgence.
Rainbow Sprinkles for Fun: Adding sprinkles inside and on top gives playful color and a little crunch that screams party.
Foolproof Baking Tips: I’ll share my go-to tricks for preventing spreading and getting that perfect soft-but-set texture on every batch.

Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting, colorful cake mix cookies, easy celebration cookies, soft cake mix cookies with frosting, festive dessert recipes - Six soft round cookies are shown on a white marbled surface lined with brown parchment paper and a wire cooling rack. Each cookie has one thick, creamy white frosting layer swirled on top, covering nearly the entire cookie. The frosting is dotted with colorful round confetti sprinkles in red, purple, orange, aqua blue, and white, scattered both on the frosting and the paper around the cookies. At the bottom right corner, a white piping bag with a metal tip is partly visible as if it was just used to decorate the cookies. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe plays a crucial role. From the trusty cake mix giving you the soft cookie base, to the sprinkles that add bursts of color and texture, I’ll tell you why I use each one and how to pick the best options for your kitchen.

Eggs: They provide structure and moisture, binding the cookie dough together nicely.
Vegetable or Canola Oil: I love these oils because they keep the cookies tender without adding any unwanted flavors.
Cake Mix (White or Confetti): This is the star base—choose a quality box like Duncan Hines for white or Pillsbury for confetti for consistent, tasty results.
Baking Powder: Helps give these cookies a little lift and lovely softness, preventing them from being too dense.
Rainbow Sprinkles or Jimmies: I recommend brand-name sprinkles like Wilton’s to avoid color bleed and get that crisp pop—but don’t stress if you’ve got a favorite brand in your pantry.
Unsalted Butter: Makes the frosting rich and creamy; room temperature helps with smooth mixing.
Cream Cheese (Original Brick-Style): For the frosting’s signature tang and luscious texture—avoid spreads or whipped types for best results.
Confectioners’ Sugar: The key to smooth, sweet frosting—sift it when you spot lumps so your frosting is silky.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and depth to the frosting flavor.
Salt: A pinch balances sweetness and intensifies flavors perfectly.
Food Coloring (Optional): If you want to add a pop of color to your frosting, go for it! I skipped it but baby pink is a fun traditional choice.
Additional Confetti Sprinkles: These are for decorating the frosted cookies—because who doesn’t love a little extra sparkle?

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is versatile enough for you to make your own touch. Funny enough, I often tweak my frosting colors or the sprinkle combinations depending on the season or party theme, and you totally should make it yours too.

Variation: One time, I swapped out regular sprinkles for pastel ones to make these perfect for Easter brunch—it was such a hit with my family!
Dairy-Free Option: I’ve experimented using dairy-free cream cheese and vegan butter for the frosting, and while texture shifts a bit, it still satisfied my vegan friends totally.
Gluten-Free Twist: Try a gluten-free vanilla cake mix—you won’t even miss the gluten and folks won’t believe how good they taste.
Speedier Version: When I’m pressed for time, I grab ready-made cream cheese frosting to slather on—totally fine when you’re craving that sweet fix ASAP.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Mix It Up and Chill

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment or Silpat mats—this keeps those delicate cookies from sticking. Whisk together your eggs and oil until beautiful and smooth, then fold in the cake mix, baking powder, and your sprinkles gently. Here’s a pro tip: pop the dough into the fridge for about an hour. Chilling will help prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, and honestly, it gives the batter a chance to chill out and get cozy, which is key for those thick, soft cookies we crave.

Step 2: Scoop and Bake with Love

Using a 3-tablespoon scoop (or two tablespoons if you don’t have one), create cookie dough mounds spaced well apart on your sheets—you want about six cookies per sheet. Crowding can make the cookies run into each other, which isn’t the vibe here. Baking one sheet at a time on the middle rack is my gold standard for even heat. If you bake two at once, be ready to swap racks and rotate pans midway—trust me, it makes a big difference! Bake for about 9 minutes—don’t worry if they look a bit underdone when you pull them out, they’ll set up perfectly while cooling.

Step 3: Whip Up That Cream Cheese Frosting

While your cookies cool, it’s frosting time. Beat your softened butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy—that’s the secret to dreamy texture. Then add your sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and salt, starting slow and speeding up until smooth. This is where you can stir in a few drops of food coloring if you want a cute pastel pink or any shade you fancy. Once perfect, transfer your frosting to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off—now you’re ready to make those swirly frosting masterpieces or just spread it on like a cozy blanket.

Step 4: Frost and Sprinkle the Fun On

Pipe or spread the frosting starting in the center of each cookie, swirling outward in a circular motion. Then sprinkle some more confetti on top for the ultimate festive touch. I love using the same rainbow sprinkles here that I added inside the cookie, but feel free to switch it up with finer or larger sprinkles for texture contrast. And voilà—your cookies are ready to be the star of any gathering or just to enjoy with a warm cup of coffee at home.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Chill Dough for Control: I never skip chilling the dough at least an hour—it’s the key to getting those soft, thick cookies and stopping them from spreading too thin.
Baking Sheets Matter: Using parchment or Silpat mats really helps cookies bake evenly and makes clean-up a breeze.
Handle Frosting Gently: When piping, don’t squeeze too hard. Slow and steady creates the prettiest swirls and keeps frosting from melting on warm cookies.
Don’t Overbake: If in doubt, take the cookies out a bit early—they’ll firm up as they cool and stay soft inside.

How to Serve Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I always go with rainbow sprinkles on top—they add the perfect pop of color and a little sweet crunch that everyone loves. Sometimes I like to toss on a few edible glitter stars or pastel sprinkles depending on the occasion. For extra fun, try adding small candy bits like mini chocolate chips or crushed candy canes if you’re feeling playful!

Side Dishes

These cookies shine on their own but serve them with a cold glass of milk, a frothy cappuccino, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dessert spread that feels indulgent without any fuss. At parties, I’ve paired them with fresh fruit platters to balance the sweetness—a nice pop of brightness alongside the creamy frosting.

Creative Ways to Present

One time I made a “cookie cake” by arranging these cookies in a big circle and frosting them all together to serve at a birthday bash—it was a hit! Individually, I love stacking them in pastel-colored boxes tied with ribbons for gifting. For holiday parties, I’ve also laid them out on a tiered dessert stand mixed with other small treats to create a colorful display that’s hard to resist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep these cookies fresh by storing them in one layer inside an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. If I’m not devouring them fast enough (which is rare!), I pop the container in the fridge where they stay good up to 5 days. Just avoid stacking them directly atop each other once frosted, or the swirls get messed up.

Freezing

I usually freeze the baked but unfrosted cookies, wrapped tightly in plastic and then stored in a freezer-safe bag or container. Believe me, they freeze beautifully for up to 2 months. When the craving hits, just thaw them completely before frosting—frosted cookies don’t freeze well because the texture and frosting appearance suffer.

Reheating

To enjoy leftovers like they’re fresh, I pop unfrosted cookies in a warm oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes to get a soft, freshly-baked feel. For frosted ones, I prefer eating them chilled or at room temp so the frosting doesn’t melt or get grainy.

FAQs

Can I use any type of cake mix for the Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe?

Yes! While I recommend white or funfetti cake mixes for that classic colorful and fluffy texture, you can experiment with chocolate or other flavors if you like—just know the frosting and sprinkles might stand out differently. The key is to use a quality boxed mix for the best cakey consistency in your cookies.
Why should I chill the cookie dough before baking?

Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too thin while baking, giving you those thick, soft cookies everyone covets. It also helps the flavors meld beautifully. It takes a little waiting, but trust me, it’s worth it!
Can I make the frosting ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make the cream cheese frosting a day in advance, store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and then bring it back to room temperature and re-whip it before frosting your cookies. This keeps it fresh and fluffy.
How do I avoid frosting melting on warm cookies?

Make sure your cookies are completely cooled before applying the frosting. If you try to frost warm cookies, the frosting can melt and lose that beautiful swirl. Patience pays off here!
Can I freeze frosted cookies?

It’s best not to freeze frosted cookies because the frosting texture and appearance can degrade upon thawing. Instead, freeze just the baked cookies unfrosted and add frosting fresh after thawing for best results.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Confetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe has become one of my go-to crowd-pleasers whenever I want to bring a smile (and a little party!) to the table. The ease of using cake mix combined with the luscious cream cheese frosting makes it approachable for bakers of all levels—plus, the sprinkles just make it joyful. If you try it, I’d love to hear how your batch turns out! Trust me, once you take a bite, you’ll be hooked just like I am. Happy baking, friend!