Description
Celebrate the holidays with these festive red and green crinkle cookies! Made with a simple white cake mix base and colored with vibrant gel food coloring, these soft and chewy cookies are coated in powdered sugar to create a beautiful crinkled appearance. Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, they are easy to make and sure to impress with their bright colors and delightful texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 box white cake mix (13.25 oz)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Red gel food coloring (as needed)
- Green gel food coloring (as needed)
Coating
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Optional Add-ins
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- White chocolate chips (quantity as desired)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly until a smooth, thick dough forms.
- Divide and color: Split the dough evenly into two separate bowls. Add red gel food coloring to one bowl and green gel food coloring to the other. Mix each until the colors are vibrant and uniform.
- Chill the dough: Cover both bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the dough, making it easier to handle.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Form cookies and coat: Scoop 1 tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar, ensuring they are fully coated to achieve the classic crinkle effect.
- Arrange on baking sheet: Place the coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes until they develop crinkled tops and are set around the edges. Be careful not to overbake so that the centers remain soft and chewy.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes post-baking, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
- Optional: For extra flavor, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough before mixing. You can also mix in white chocolate chips for added sweetness and texture.
Notes
- Do not overbake to maintain soft centers with crinkled edges.
- Be generous with the powdered sugar coating to create the classic crinkle look.
- Gel food coloring is preferred for vibrant colors without altering dough consistency.
- Chilling the dough is essential for easier handling and prevents excessive spreading.
- Optional add-ins like vanilla extract and white chocolate chips enhance flavor and texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to preserve freshness for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Festive cookies, crinkle cookies, holiday cookies, red and green cookies, cake mix cookies, Christmas cookies, easy cookie recipe
