Do you need a quick and easy solution for Christmas cookies? Something fun, original and that the kids will love? Keep reading! These North Pole Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are super-easy to make and are guaranteed to be a crowdpleaser!
North Pole Cake Mix Christmas Cookies: A Whimsical Christmas Treat
My little guys have their Christmas concert at preschool this week, and the call went out for volunteers to make Christmas cookies. Now, I can’t do a lot of the tasks they need volunteers for (like fix toys), but I can certainly bake some cookies.
This is my boys’ 1st full year in preschool. Because we moved, they started late last year, after Christmas. So, we missed out these festivities last year. And there’s something so precious when your kids experience these ‘firsts.’ Is there anything more quintessentially a childhood Christmas than a preschool Chrismas concert?
My boys like to help make cookies (for 2 minutes), but if there’s a little extra fun about them, well, even better.
We’ve baked all the typical cookies – chocolate chip, oatmeal… but I wanted something special for their first Christmas show. And something easy. Because we all know what the best-laid plans are like… and the show is in 2 days.
I was brainstorming cookie ideas while I was giving my sons a bath (the 2 are completely unrelated), and one of my sons started talking about his dessert that night – a Hug (Hershey’s Hug) and a Number 3 (Three Musketeers).
And I started thinking about the striped Christmas Hug and how it kind of looked like a candy cane. And candy canes reminded me of snow, and vanilla frosting and coconut would be really yummy snow…and well, North Pole Cake Mix Cookie were born.
{ETA: Between the time I wrote this and when I’m actually posting this, my boys were sick and we missed the show! 🙁 So disappointed! However, the cookies were made and sent in for the rest of the class to enjoy!}
Cake Mix Cookie Recipe: Easiest Cookie Hack Ever
Ever since a friend turned me on to the Cake Mix Doctor, it’s been my go-to for a fast, easy cookie recipe. If I could make something creative with it without too much effort, then even better! (If you need even more cake mix Christmas cookie ideas, here are 30 more!)
This recipe works just like any cake mix cookie – basically cake mix, oil or butter and eggs. For a 15.25 oz box of cake, you want to add in 2 eggs and a 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. The rest is up to you.
You can use any flavor cake you want and mix in any add-in – chocolate chips, M&Ms, nuts, candy cane bits … whatever. The North Pole part is what’s on top: white frosting (cream cheese, vanilla, buttercream), sprinkled with coconut and candy cane bits, with a Hershey’s Hug on top.
Make sure you get the CANDY CANE HUGS (affiliate link)- those are the red striped ones, not just the regular Hugs. The Christmas Hugs are still brown-and-white-striped, not red-and-white.
And there’s your snow. And stripey North Pole center.
Pro-Tips for the Best North Pole Christmas Cookies
There are a few little tricks for these cookies – and all cake mix cookies in general.
1| These cookies will be very sweet. And a serious sugar high for the littles. You can remove the add-ins, coconut, or candy-cane bits and only use 1 or 2 of them. Or none. Even if you just have the white frosting and the striped Hug on top, that’s enough to get the North Pole effect.
2| These cookies would taste amazing as peppermint cookies, too! You can eliminate the add-ins and just peppermint extract for a nice minty flavor. Or you can also use peppermint baking chunks (affiliate link) instead of white chocolate chips.
3| When you make the dough, set it in the fridge for about 15 -20 minutes before baking. It makes the dough less sticky and a little easier to handle.
4| Roll the dough in your hands to make balls. This will ensure that they flatten out to a nice, circle cookie with some thickness. If the cookie is too thin, it can’t really support frosting and the hug.
5| Don’t overcook the cookies. Bake for about 9 minutes at 350 degrees, just until they set. You don’t want them to get brown because they are going to sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before you transfer to the cooling rack. This will allow them to be soft but firm.
6| Once cooled, you can put on the white frosting, sprinkle with coconut and candy cane bits (smash a candy cane in a ziplock baggie with a hammer), and add your Hug! Give the frosting a little time to dry before packing them up.
You should get about 3 dozen cookies from this batch.
If You Want Healthy Instead of Easy
When I’m baking for crowds, to be honest, I’m not always worried about the health factor.
However, when I’m making treats for my own boys, to be kept in my house, I’m usually trying to go the more healthy route. If you want to bake some healthy treats for Christmas, take a look at these 30 Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes – all clean or paleo, gluten-free, with zero refined- sugar!
Or, if you want a non-cookie Christmas treat, you can look through these 35 Healthy Christmas Desserts – again, all clean or paleo, with no refined sugar!
OK, now to the North Pole!
North Pole Cake Mix Christmas Cookie Recipe
North Pole Cake Mix Chrismas Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (or your choice of flavor), 15.25 oz
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup of white chocolate chips (or peppermint chips)
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (optional)
- For Garnish:
- 1 container white frosting
- 1 bag of Hershey's CANDY CANE Hugs
- 1/4 cup coconut
- 2-3 candy canes, crushed
Instructions
1| Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2| Prepare baking sheet with parchments paper.
3| In bowl, combine cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup chips, and 1/2 tsp peppermint extract (optional). Stir until well-combined as cookie dough.
4| Put in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to firm.
5| Place candy canes in bag and crush with hammer or rolling pin.
6| Remove dough from refrigerator and roll cookie dough into balls and place on baking sheet, about 3 to a row, evenly spaced.
7| Bake for about 9 minutes. Check on cookies - do not let them brown; just bake until they set.
8| Remove from oven and let them sit for a few minutes to completely set.
9| Remove from baking sheet and place on cookie rack to completely cook.
10| Frost each cookie, sprinkle coconut, then candy cane bits on frosting. Add your Hershey's Hug on top. Allow to completely dry before packing.
11| Enjoy and serve to adoring friends and family!
North Pole Cake Mix Cookies: A Sure Crowd Pleaser
These cookies are so easy to make and will be an appreciated treat for any class party or family get together, especially if kids are involved! Just be sure not to serve too close to bedtime! The sugar-rush might be too much! These cookies are fun and festive, and cake mix cookies are just so easy to make!
You can also serve these cookies with this delicious Dutch Bros. Christmas Morning Chai – it’s not just for Christmas morning (trust me!). The warm flavors are the perfect accompaniment for the peppermint!
If you bake them, please let me know how it goes!
Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
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