RECIPE: Bougie Cake Mix Cookies 12 Ways

Boxed cake mix is the best thing created to help busy cooks everywhere with dessert and cake making. And these cake mixes can be used for so many other creative baking things (just peruse Pinterest!), and one of them is actually a very easy cookie batter. By simply omitting the water and varying the egg and oil, you have a moist cookie dough that is easy to work with. But you may say, “Oh those cake mixes are so ‘Betty Crocker’.” Well, I brainstormed 12 mix-in ideas to really class up boxed cake mix cookie batter-so that you can even use some of these for cookie plates during the holidays or hoity toity bridal showers. I urge you to get creative with this base recipe. New cake mix flavors keep showing up on the shelves and you can get really fun with some of them. The possibilities are endless. Don’t just resort to a candy or a chip-think about herbs, florals, liquors or jams. It can get pretty crazy. 

Some of the family favorites from the above?

Hubby liked Fig in the Woods, Pina Colada and Chai-Tachios.

The kids loved Peach Cobbler, Tira Mi Susies and Ferrero-tellas.

My sister liked Tutti Frutti and Citrus Summer

It’s really all about your favorite flavors. So have some mix-in FUN! I have a how-to video below. Exact amounts are also below.

1 Boxed Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

Beat well. Drop by tablespoonfuls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in a 350˚ oven anywhere from 8-13 minutes, depending. You are looking for a light golden color on the edges and the cookies to be set.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1 tsp. lime zest

1 tsp. finely chopped mint leaves

Sprinkle Fleur de Sel or other large grain sea salt on top of cookies before baking.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 tsp. finely chopped basil leaves

Garnish finished cookies with sugared basil leaves.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/2 cup chopped coffee-chocolate flavored candy

4 oz. softened mascarpone cheese or cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 Tbsp. sugar

Whip well. Then split in half. 

Keep one half plain sweetened cheese, the other mix in 2 Tbsp. instant espresso granules.

Flatten the dough, and in alternating strips spread the different flavored cheese cream. Fold over a few times until both creams are marbled into the dough. Drop the dough by the tablespoonfuls and bake as usual.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1-2 chai tea bag contents, bags discarded
 (you can crush the tea in a mortar and pestle for stronger flavor and finer granules)

1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/2 cup chopped, dried figs

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix the black pepper into the chopped figs, then add it to the batter with the walnuts.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots or peaches 

1 tsp. rum extract

1/2 cup peach jam

Add the rum and dried fruit into the batter and mix. Flatten dough and spread the jam on top. Fold in on itself until the jam is marbled throughout the dough. Drop by the tablespoonfuls and bake as usual.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. kirsch or other berry liquor

1/2 dried mixed berries

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger

1 tsp. lime zest

1 tsp. orange zest

1 tsp. lemon zest

Sprinkle top of cookies with crystallized ginger sugar before baking. (mix chopped crystallized ginger with sugar and store). If you don’t feel like doing this you can mix a touch of dried ground ginger in with sugar or just use plain sugar for sprinkling.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/4 cup chopped dried cherries

2 tsp. coconut extract

1/4 cup shredded coconut

2 tsp. kirsch or other berry liquor

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

4 Ferrero Rocher candies, chopped up

1/2 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

2 tsp. Frangelico or other hazelnut liquor

1/2 cup Nutella 

Mix in everything but the Nutella. Flatten dough, then spread the Nutella. Fold over a few times to marble in the Nutella. Drop by the tablespoonfuls and bake as usual.

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1 tsp. rum extract

2 tsp. coconut extract

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped dried pineapple

candied cherries, cut in half, for garnish on top before baking

cookie base recipe, then mix in:

1/2 cup finely chopped mixed dried berries

1 tsp. orange zest

2 tsp. grenadine