Classic and easy gingerbread cookies recipe with cake mix, homemade with 3 simple ingredients. These are the best soft cut out cookies. Enjoy them in any shape but especially gingerbread men.
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It's our family tradition to bake these cookies with all the kids in the family on Christmas Eve. They taste just as good as they look and the children get super creative decorating them. If you are fond of this flavor, you also must try this Easy Gingerbread Recipe (Gingerbread Cake) and this Homemade Gingerbread Latte Recipe.
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Key ingredients
- Spiced cake mix- This makes this recipe super fast and easy.
- Butter- Be sure to use unsalted for best results.
- Egg- Use one that is large and at room temperature.
Variations
- Mix in- Finely chopped candied ginger in the dough.
- Add other spices in the dough- Such as ground cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, allspice, cloves.
- Add some orange zest- In the dough to create bright zesty flavor notes.
- Instead of decorating these cookies- Just dip fully in melted chocolate and toss some sprinkles or chopped nuts on top.
- Try a different extract- Such as lemon, almond, maple, or peppermint for additional flavor.
- Coat the cookies- In my Homemade Cinnamon Sugar.
How to make easy gingerbread cookies recipe with cake mix?
1. Add butter and egg- In large mixing bowl.
2. Mix- Until both ingredients are combined.
3. Sift box mix- And add to wet mixture.
4. Mix- Until fully combined.
5. Chill- And form large ball of dough
6. Roll- Between two sheets of wax paper or parchment paper.
7. Cut out- And bake.
8. Decorate- And enjoy.
Tips and techniques
- Sift the boxed cake mix flour at least once- To get rid of the little lumps or else your baked cookies will have little specks of cake mix flour.
- The batter will become crumbly- So don't be tempted to add any type of liquid to thin it out. Just use your hands to gently knead the dough. The warmth of your hand will help to bring the dough together.
- The butter should be at room temperature- This means not hard but also not melted.
- Chill the dough- So that it becomes easier to handle. Plus, chilled cookies don't spread too much while baking and hold their shape better.
- Apply this recipe to other cake mixes- Check out these Easy Heart Cookies (With Cake Mix) or these Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies (With Cake Mix) for some ideas.
- Please note- These cookies are not ideal for making gingerbread houses since they can't handle the weight of all the candies. However, you can check out this Gingerbread House Tutorial for my firm and strong gingerbread cookie recipe.
- Don't over-mix- Otherwise you will get tough cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Typically they should be soft but still be able to hold their shape. Hard ones are used to make gingerbread houses and other decorations like ornaments. Some people prefer the hard ones for dunking in tea or coffee.
They are sweet with a spiced flavor that comes from cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Some people like to add orange zest too.
Typically, Royal Icing or Glace Icing is used to make all the details, which dry hard and you can even use American Buttercream Frosting. However, I decorated with melted chocolate because my kid prefers chocolate.
Storage
- Freeze- Once they have fully cooled down, place in an air-tight containers. Let them thaw in the fridge for 24 hours.
- Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
- Room temperature- These can be out on the counter for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead- These are easy to make beforehand. Simply make, bake, seal them up, and either freeze or refrigerate per instructions above.
More doctored cake mix recipes
- Cake Mix Pumpkin Donuts
- Easy Pumpkin Cake With Cake Mix
- Easy Apple Cake With Cake Mix
- Cake Mix Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Recipe
Easy Gingerbread Cookies (Cake Mix)
Video
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the egg and butter in a large mixing bowl and mix until combined. It will not be a smooth mixture.
- Sift the boxed cake mix.
- Add the cake mix into the wet mixture and mix until just combined. Don’t over mix.
- If the dough is sticky, cover and chill for about 1 hour so that it's easier to handle. It also prevents cookies from spreading too much while baking and they hold their shape better.
- Roll the dough between two sheets of wax paper or parchment paper and use your cutters to cut out various shapes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are firm and slightly brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely and then decorate them with royal icing or melted chocolate and candies. Enjoy.
Notes
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a cookie jar at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Chefnan
We make these every Christmas but use devils food cake mix or vanilla cake mix. They always come out adorable and delicious! Easy easy!
Julia
These cookies were easy and delicious! Great recipe!! I’m making more!
Janice Cornejo
Hi! Can this recipe be used to make cookie bars?
Abeer Rizvi
I haven't tried making bars out of them but I do have these Snickerdoodle bars that you might enjoy: https://cakewhiz.com/snickerdoodle-bars-recipe/
Tammy
These were so easy to make thanks for the recipe. They are delicious
Beth
Wow! Didn’t know what to expect, but these are also delicious to boot! My daughter loved making the dough and it was easy to handle even after refrigerating. Like the tip of using wax paper. We used a little rolling pin and our gingerbread man cookie cutter and it was so much fun. Breeze compared to years past. Thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
Awwww! That makes me so happy.
Amanda
I am making these tonight for my Kinders to enjoy tomorrow! I am so happy I ran across this super easy recipe! I was dreading tonight and having to spend so much time on them, but you saved the day! Thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
I am happy to help!
Penny
How many cookies does it make? I have a class of Kindergarten kids. I cannot find the easy gingerbread mix. Thank you.
Abeer Rizvi
Oh this is so easy and kiddos love it. The number of cookies you get will depend on the size of your cookie cutter and the thickness of your cookies. I usually 10-12 decent sized gingerbread cookies and some smaller ones.
T
This was EXACTLY what I was looking for! haven’t made it yet but it’s on the list !
Abeer Rizvi
Seriously, so easy and tastes awesome! Let me know how it goes
Kim Beaulieu
I just happened to be perusing around your site while I was pinning tonight and saw these. They are so cute. I'm a sucker for gingerbread cookies.
Abeer Rizvi
Awww... Thanks Kim! These are the easiest gingerbread cookies ever and such darlings that it's almost a shame when I bite into them...hahaha!
Arwa
Definitely will be trying this! Neve thought to use a spiced cake mix box!
Abeer Rizvi
They are the easiest cookies ever!Hope you enjoy them this holiday season