Description of this recipe
These Easy Christmas Cookies with Cool Whip are a delightful and incredibly simple treat to whip up during the holiday season. They’re soft, chewy, and bursting with festive flavor, making them perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or a cozy night in with family. This recipe simplifies the baking process by using a cake mix as the base, combined with the light and airy texture of Cool Whip, resulting in a cookie that is both delicious and effortless to make.
Why you will love this recipe
You’ll absolutely adore these cookies because they are:
- Incredibly Easy: With just a few ingredients and minimal steps, even novice bakers can achieve perfect results.
- Quick to Make: From mixing to baking, the entire process takes less than 30 minutes, making them ideal for busy holiday schedules.
- Soft and Chewy: The combination of cake mix and Cool Whip creates a uniquely soft and chewy texture that melts in your mouth.
- Versatile: The base recipe can be customized with different cake mix flavors, extracts, and festive sprinkles to suit your preferences.
- Crowd-Pleasing: These cookies are always a hit with both kids and adults, making them a guaranteed success at any holiday gathering.
Ingredients:
- 1 box cake mix (any flavor, 15–18 ounces)
- 1 container Cool Whip (8 ounces)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup powdered sugar, for rolling
- Optional: festive sprinkles, food coloring, or extracts like peppermint or almond for variation.
Preparation:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the cookies bake evenly and develop the perfect texture. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent the cookies from sticking and make cleanup a breeze. Parchment paper also helps the cookies bake more evenly, preventing the bottoms from burning.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, Cool Whip, and egg. Using a hand mixer or a sturdy spoon, stir the ingredients together until a dough forms. The dough will be quite sticky, which is perfectly normal for this recipe. Make sure all ingredients are fully incorporated, leaving no dry cake mix behind.
Step 3: Place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. This will be used to coat the cookies, adding a touch of sweetness and preventing them from sticking to your hands. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the dough using a spoon or a small cookie scoop. Drop each portion into the bowl of powdered sugar and roll it around until it’s fully coated. The powdered sugar acts as a barrier, making the dough easier to handle and giving the cookies a beautiful, crackled appearance after baking.
Step 4: Arrange the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. This allows for proper air circulation, ensuring that the cookies bake evenly. If you overcrowd the baking sheet, the cookies may spread into each other and not bake properly.
Step 5: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, or until they are set and the tops are slightly crackled. Keep a close eye on them, as baking times may vary depending on your oven. The cookies should be soft to the touch but not overly gooey. Once they are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
COOKING Rating:
- Ease of Preparation: 5/5 (Extremely easy)
- Taste: 4.5/5 (Delicious and satisfying)
- Overall: 5/5 (A perfect holiday treat)
Serving Suggestions:
- As is: These cookies are delicious on their own, perfect for a quick and satisfying treat.
- With Milk or Hot Chocolate: Pair them with a glass of cold milk or a warm cup of hot chocolate for a classic holiday indulgence.
- Cookie Platters: Add them to your holiday cookie platters to offer a variety of flavors and textures.
- Gift Giving: Package them in festive tins or bags to give as homemade gifts to friends, family, and neighbors.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: Use them to make ice cream sandwiches with your favorite flavor of ice cream for a fun and creative dessert.
Tips:
- Cake Mix Flavors: Experiment with different cake mix flavors to create a variety of cookie options. Chocolate, red velvet, spice cake, and lemon are all excellent choices.
- Extracts: Add a few drops of your favorite extract to the dough for an extra burst of flavor. Peppermint, almond, vanilla, and orange extracts work especially well for Christmas cookies.
- Food Coloring: Use food coloring to tint the dough for festive colors. Red and green are classic choices, but you can also use other colors like blue, purple, or gold.
- Sprinkles: Decorate the cookies with festive sprinkles before baking for added visual appeal.
- Don’t Overbake: Be careful not to overbake the cookies, as they will become dry and crumbly. They should be soft to the touch when they are done.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing them to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. They can also be frozen for longer storage.
Prep Time:
- 10 minutes
Cook Time:
- 10-12 minutes
Total Time:
- 20-22 minutes
Nutritional Information: (Per cookie, approximate)
- Calories: 80-100
- Protein: 1g
- Sodium: 50-70mg
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.
Conclusion
These Easy Christmas Cookies with Cool Whip are a delightful and stress-free way to enjoy the flavors of the holiday season. With their soft, chewy texture and customizable flavors, they’re sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, a holiday party, or simply a cozy night in, these cookies are the perfect choice. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to create some delicious memories with these easy and irresistible Christmas cookies!
Questions and Answers:
Q1: Can I use a sugar-free cake mix to make these cookies healthier?
A: Yes, you can definitely use a sugar-free cake mix to reduce the sugar content of these cookies. Keep in mind that the texture and taste might be slightly different compared to using a regular cake mix. You might also want to consider adding a touch of vanilla extract or another flavoring to enhance the taste if the sugar-free cake mix lacks sweetness.
Q2: My cookie dough is too sticky to handle. What can I do?
A: If your cookie dough is too sticky, try chilling it in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes before rolling it into balls. This will help firm up the dough and make it easier to handle. Additionally, make sure you are using enough powdered sugar when rolling the dough balls, as this helps prevent them from sticking to your hands.
Q3: Can I freeze these cookies?
A: Absolutely! These cookies freeze very well. To freeze them, allow them to cool completely after baking. Then, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for about 30 minutes to an hour. Once they are frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw them at room temperature for a few hours.
Q4: What can I use instead of Cool Whip?
A: If you don’t have Cool Whip on hand, you can use an equal amount of whipped cream cheese or Greek yogurt as a substitute. However, keep in mind that these substitutions may slightly alter the texture and flavor of the cookies. Whipped cream cheese will add a richer, tangier flavor, while Greek yogurt will make the cookies slightly denser and more moist.
Q5: Can I add chocolate chips or nuts to these cookies?
A: Absolutely! Adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts is a great way to customize these cookies and add extra flavor and texture. Simply fold in about ½ cup of chocolate chips (milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or white chocolate) or chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds) to the dough before rolling it into balls. Just be sure not to add too much, as this could make the dough too heavy and affect the cookies’ texture.
