The Best Cake Mix Monster Cookies Recipe for Sweet Smiles

Whipping up these cake mix monster cookies brings pure childhood joy to your kitchen.

Soft, chewy textures blend with colorful chocolate morsels in unexpected ways.

Sweet memories burst through each delightful bite of this simple treat.

Kids absolutely adore mixing vibrant candies and chocolate chips into the batter.

Each cookie becomes a playful canvas of sugary excitement and texture.

Quick preparation means you can satisfy sudden dessert cravings in minutes.

The result?

Irresistible cookies that spark smiles and create delicious moments of connection.

Why Cake Mix Monster Cookies Are Sweet, Fun, And Loaded

• Whip Up Effortless Delights: This monster cookie recipe transforms cake mix into a magical treat with minimal effort, perfect for bakers of all skill levels who want a quick and delicious dessert.
• Customize Your Crunch: The recipe offers incredible flexibility, letting you mix in various chips, candies, and crunchy elements like pretzels to create a unique cookie experience every time you bake.
• Family Baking Adventure: Kids will love helping press colorful M&Ms into the cookie tops, making this recipe an interactive and fun family cooking activity that brings everyone together in the kitchen.
• Speedy Sweet Satisfaction: From start to finish, these monster cookies take just about 25 minutes to prepare and bake, making them an ideal solution for sudden sweet cravings or last-minute dessert needs.

What You Need To Make Cake Mix Monster Cookies

• Cake Mix, Oats: A combo that creates a soft, chewy cookie base with extra texture and depth.
• Melted Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the ingredients together smoothly.
• Eggs: Essential for structure and helping the cookies hold their shape.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic sweetness to enhance overall cookie flavor.

• M&Ms, Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter Chips: Colorful and delicious additions that create bursts of sweet chocolate flavor throughout the cookie.

Note: Choose bright, fresh candies and chips for maximum visual appeal and taste.

• Crushed Pretzels: Optional ingredient that adds a salty, crunchy contrast to the sweet cookie.

Note: Use fresh, crisp pretzels for the best texture and crunch.

How To Bake Cake Mix Monster Cookies With Ease

Step 1: Kickstart the Cookie Magic

Crank up your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper or a silicone mat. This sets the stage for cookie greatness!

• Cake mix
• Oats
• Melted butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract

Dump all these ingredients into a big mixing bowl. Stir and blend until you’ve got a thick, irresistible cookie dough that looks like pure happiness.

• M&Ms
• Chocolate chips
• Peanut butter chips
• Crushed pretzels (optional)

Save a handful of M&Ms and chocolate chips for some extra cookie decoration magic.

Step 2: Shape and Decorate Cookies

Grab a cookie scoop or tablespoon and start dropping dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet. Give each cookie some breathing room – space them about 2 inches apart.

Get creative and press those extra M&Ms and chocolate chips on top of each cookie. This is your chance to make them look absolutely stunning!

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. You’re looking for golden edges with centers that still look slightly soft. Don’t let them get too crispy – we want chewy, awesome cookies!

Step 3: Cool and Devour

Let the cookies hang out on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. They’ll need a moment to catch their breath! Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

These monster cookies are begging to be enjoyed with a cold glass of milk. Pro tip: They’re perfect for sharing (or not sharing – we won’t judge)!

Baking Tips To Make Cake Mix Monster Cookies Stand Out

• Boost Cookie Texture: Use room temperature eggs and butter for a smoother, more even dough that blends perfectly.
• Customize Mix-Ins: Swap pretzels with crushed graham crackers or nuts for different flavor and crunch profiles that match your taste preferences.
• Prevent Spreading: Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to help maintain cookie shape and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
• Store Smartly: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, placing a piece of bread inside to maintain softness and prevent drying out.
• Dietary Adaptation: Replace regular M&Ms with dairy-free chocolate chips and use gluten-free cake mix to create a version suitable for various dietary needs.

Storing Cake Mix Monster Cookies For Anytime Snacking

• Seal freshly baked monster cookies in an airtight container to maintain maximum freshness.
• Keep the cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring they stay soft and delicious.
• Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve their perfect texture.
• Want longer storage? Freeze the cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, placing wax paper between each layer to prevent them from clumping together.
• Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature for about 30 minutes before enjoying their mouthwatering flavor and crisp edges.

Snacks And Sips That Match Cake Mix Monster Cookies

• Pair with Cold Milk Bliss: Dunk these monster cookies into a chilled glass of whole milk for the ultimate classic comfort experience. The creamy milk perfectly balances the sweet and crunchy texture of the cookies, creating a nostalgic treat that brings out the rich flavors of chocolate and peanut butter chips.
• Match with Vanilla Milkshake: Complement the cookie's indulgent mix of flavors by sipping on a thick, creamy vanilla milkshake. The smooth, cold drink enhances the cookie's sweetness and provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, chewy texture.
• Serve with Coffee Delight: Enjoy these monster cookies alongside a hot cup of medium-roast coffee or a caramel latte. The slight bitterness of coffee cuts through the cookie's sweetness, creating a balanced and satisfying flavor combination that works perfectly for an afternoon treat or dessert.
• Pair with Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate: Indulge in a decadent pairing by serving these cookies with a warm mug of salted caramel hot chocolate. The rich, sweet-salty drink complements the cookie's multiple mix-ins and creates a luxurious dessert experience that feels like a warm hug.

Delicious Twists On Cake Mix Monster Cookies

• Nutty Adventure: Swap out pretzels for chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts, adding a rich, crunchy texture and deep nutty flavor to the classic monster cookies.
• Tropical Escape: Replace chocolate chips with white chocolate chips and mix in shredded coconut and dried pineapple chunks for a sunny, vacation-inspired treat that brings island vibes to your baking.
• Rainbow Celebration: Use a funfetti cake mix instead of regular cake mix, then add rainbow sprinkles alongside the M&Ms to create an extra colorful and festive version that's perfect for birthdays and parties.
• Salted Caramel Dream: Drizzle melted caramel over the cooled cookies and sprinkle with sea salt, transforming the original recipe into a gourmet-style dessert with a sweet and salty profile.

Common Questions About Cake Mix Monster Cookies

• What makes these Cake Mix Monster Cookies different from regular cookies?

These cookies use cake mix as the base, which creates a unique texture and simplifies the baking process. The combination of cake mix with oats, multiple mix-ins like M&Ms, chocolate chips, and pretzels gives them a fun, unexpected flavor and texture.

• Can I substitute ingredients if I don't have exactly what the recipe calls for?

Absolutely! You can swap out different types of chips like butterscotch or white chocolate chips. If you don’t have pretzels, try chopped nuts or extra chocolate chips. The cake mix base makes these cookies very forgiving and adaptable.

• Are these cookies good for kids to help make?

These cookies are perfect for kids! They’re easy to mix, and children will love adding the colorful M&Ms and pressing extra toppings onto the cookies. It’s a fun, hands-on baking activity that creates delicious results.

• How do I ensure my cookies turn out soft and chewy?

The key is to not overbake them. Take the cookies out when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet, which helps maintain that perfect chewy texture.

Cake Mix Monster Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Monster cookies blend childhood nostalgia with irresistible sweetness, combining classic flavors and playful textures. Chocolate chips, colorful candies, and cake mix create a delightful treat you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 box (432 g / 15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix (or white cake mix)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted

Mix-Ins and Toppings:

• 1 cup M&Ms (Halloween colors or any variety)
• ½ cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
• ½ cup peanut butter chips (optional)
• ½ cup mini pretzels, crushed (optional, for crunch)

Flavor Enhancer:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Craft the foundational mixture by combining the cake mix with robust rolled oats in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a textural base for your cookie adventure.
2. Incorporate melted butter, eggs, and aromatic vanilla extract into the dry ingredients, stirring until a cohesive, dense dough emerges with consistent moisture throughout.
3. Gently fold colorful M&Ms, rich chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter chips, and crunchy crushed pretzels into the dough, ensuring an even distribution of these delightful mix-ins.
4. Strategically position a silicone baking mat or parchment paper onto your baking sheets, preparing a non-stick surface for cookie formation.
5. Utilize a cookie scoop to create uniform dough spheres, placing them approximately two inches apart to allow proper spreading during baking.
6. Embellish each cookie mound by delicately pressing reserved M&Ms and chocolate chips onto the surface, creating a visually appealing and tempting presentation.
7. Slide the prepared baking sheets into a preheated oven set at 180C (350F), allowing the cookies to transform for 10-12 minutes until edges become firm yet centers remain tantalizingly soft.
8. After removing from the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for five minutes to stabilize their structure before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
9. Allow complete cooling to ensure optimal texture and flavor development, then serve these indulgent treats alongside a chilled glass of milk for maximum enjoyment.

Notes

• Customize Your Cake Mix: Choose a flavor that complements your mix-ins, like vanilla, chocolate, or funfetti for added excitement.
• Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the prepared dough for 30 minutes to prevent spreading and create more compact, chewy cookies.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap the cake mix for a gluten-free alternative and use certified gluten-free oats to make the recipe celiac-friendly.
• Texture Tip: Don’t overmix the dough to keep the cookies soft and prevent a tough, dense texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 196
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 136 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg