Need a quick and easy recipe for a holiday party or cookie exchange? These Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies are a perfect way to make homemade cookies fast.

Peppermint cookies with cake mix are such an easy recipe, they’re perfect to get kids involved with holiday baking.

Make peppermint cake mix cookies with just 5 ingredients

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Participating in a cookie exchange next month? I participate in an annual cookie exchange each December with my Moms of Multiples Club, and it’s so fun to see all the different flavors and varieties each year.

These candy cane cake mix cookies are easy to make, textured and crunchy, and just delicious! No one will know how quickly they came together, and they’ll love the flavor.

Peppermint cake mix cookies are a big hit with kids, and I love to have my crunchy, minty cookie with a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate.

ingredients for candy cane cake mix cookies

What kind of cake mix do I need?

You’ll notice in these photos that I’ve used a yellow cake mix. I think the peppermint would also go great with a chocolate or white cake mix.

Can these be made gluten-free?

Yes, it’s pretty easy to make gluten free candy cane cake mix cookies. Just swap out a standard cake mix for a gluten-free version.

How to crush peppermint candy

This recipe calls for 2 candy canes or 6 round peppermint candies for the cookie batter. Then, you use the same amount again for the tops of the cookies.

To smash the candy canes or peppermint candies, unwrap them and put them into a zipper bag. Use a rolling pin or hammer to break them into smaller pieces.

When making cookies from cake mix, do not follow the directions on the back of the box. Instead, melt one stick of butter (1/2 cup) and use one egg.

Crush candy canes or peppermint candies into two sizes. The finely-crushed pieces will go into the batter itself. The larger pieces will go on top of the cookies.

Add the finely-crushed candy to the yellow cake mix batter. Stir to combine.

For extra strong peppermint flavor, add a little peppermint extract.

adding peppermint pieces to cake mix batter

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to make balls of dough and place about 2-inches apart on a baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes. Then, remove from the oven and sprinkle the larger pieces of crushed candy on top of each cookie. Bake for another 3-5 minutes.

Move the cookies to cooling racks and let cool fully before packaging or serving.

peppermint cookies with cake mix on cooling rack

Any of these quick cookie recipes are perfect for Christmas parties or for sharing at a cookie exchange. Happy holiday baking!

Yield: 24 cookies

Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (I used yellow)
1 stick butter, melted
1 large egg
2 candy canes or 6 peppermint candies, crushed very fine
2 candy canes or 6 peppermint candies, crushed roughly
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Instructions

Finely crush 6 peppermint candies (I put them in a zipper bag and smashed them with a hammer).
In a large bowl, combine crushed candy with cake mix, melted butter and egg. Add peppermint extract and mix thoroughly.
Scoop onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
While baking, crush another 6 peppermint candies (roughly this time).
Sprinkle roughly crushed candies over cookies, then bake for another 5 minutes, until brown around the edges.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 193mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g

Perfect for a holiday cookie exchange, these Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies are quick to make and filled with flavor and texture!

Veronica

Thursday 15th of June 2023

What do you do with the 1/2 tsp extract?

Gina

Thanks for catching that! I added it to the recipe. The point of the peppermint extract is to give the cookie dough itself some peppermint flavor.

Danita Carr

Thursday 19th of November 2015

These looks so good! I think we might have to add these to our Christmas cookies this year! #SmallVictories

Miz Helen

Wednesday 18th of November 2015

A great cookie for the holidays! Your recipe is awesome, I have pinned it. We really enjoy you sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon! Miz Helen

Ashley

Tuesday 17th of November 2015

Thanks for linking up to last week's Tasty Tuesday linky. I've pinned your recipe to the Creative K Kids Pinterest board. I hope you'll join us again this week.

Kathleen Howell

Saturday 14th of November 2015

These were great - I made them last year with chocolate cake mix.. I even took a photo of my husband crushing the starlight mints with a hammer - his version of Candy Crush! Hahaha..

So glad to hear that they were good with chocolate!

Thank you!