How to easily make soft baked oatmeal cookies with cake mix, and only a few other ingredients! They are soft, chewy and delicious, and can easily be made with pantry items.
This post contains affiliate links for Etsy and Amazon. If you make a purchase by clicking on them, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Find the free recipe instructions below, or purchase a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF on Etsy by clicking here.
In a hurry? Pin this for later when you have more time.
I bought a bunch of cake mixes on clearance from Walmart a while ago, and I decided I was going to pull some out to make cookies. I had multiples of the Carrot Cake, Red Velvet and Funfetti flavors. I was inspired by the Carrot Cake one to make some Oatmeal Cookies.
Typically, I have stock of Spice cake mix, and what I love about it is that I don’t have to add any spices to it. It has everything included, which means I don’t have to keep extra spices in my cupboard, AND it can be used as the base for Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Spice, Apple Spice, Gingerbread and Oatmeal. With that said, a Carrot Cake would be the same thing with added carrot bits throughout, which I didn’t mind for my mix (though you can’t even taste them in these cookies).
I like to start with a cake mix as the base because of how soft the cookies come out plus it’s so easy to use, then I combine that with some softened plant based butter (because I’m lactose intolerant), and two eggs. I didn’t add any extract, but a touch of vanilla extract would add a little extra sweetness. Some oatmeal, cranberries and pecans top this cookie recipe off, but feel free to leave out the cranberries and pecans, or substitute them for other things like raisins and walnuts or chocolate chips – it’s so easy to raid the pantry and use what you already have on hand.
When the dough is ready, I use my handy dandy cookie scoop because it makes it quicker, and even more easy. I bought a 1 1/2″ in diameter cookie scoop from Ross many years ago, and that is what I use, but I would recommend investing in a set of 3, which includes 1, 2 and 3 tablespoon scoops. They are so useful, and not just for making cookies, but I use them in other things too, like evenly scooping out cupcake mix into tins, and toppings.
Usually when I bake these cookies for my husband and I, I cut the recipe in half so we don’t end up with so many cookies, but with Oatmeal Cookies, I use them as a breakfast too and not just dessert (as well as share) so I do the full batch for them. If you cut the recipe in half, you will need 1.5 cups of the cake mix, and you can store the rest of it in a tupperware. Don’t forget to label your tupperware with the contents, the date you opened it, and the expiration date – I do this with a Sharpie on scotch tape that I put on the side of the tupperware.
If you crochet, these are the Volume One Hand Towel (cream) and Gwendolyn Table Runner (blue) and I have free crochet patterns for them on my EyeLoveKnots blog.
Are Oatmeal Cookies Healthy?
Though these Oatmeal Cookies contain lots of great add-ins, they still contain quite a bit of sugars and fats, especially made with cake mix as the base so they aren’t healthy enough to eat everyday, but a nice snack, breakfast or dessert every once and a while.
Can I use Instant Oatmeal or Quick Oats to Make Oatmeal Cookies?
The short answer is yes! The old fashioned oats provide a more chewy texture and a nuttier flavor for oatmeal cookies because they are heartier. Cookies made with Instant Oatmeal or Quick Oats won’t be as chewy or have as much texture.
If I don’t have old fashioned oats on hand, but I have tons of instant oatmeal, would I use it to make Oatmeal Cookies? Yep! Though a little different, I still like them, especially with all the fun flavors that Instant Oatmeal comes in.
What is the Best Boxed Cake Mix to Make Cookies With?
Duncan Hines is my favorite cake mix to use. It makes the best soft and chewy cookies. I do not recommend Pillsbury for these because these will come out puffy and cakey instead (kind of like the top of a cupcake). Betty Crocker does have a super moist series, and that might work, though I haven’t tested it.
What can I use if I don’t have Spice or Carrot Cake cake mix?
If you don’t have Spice or Carrot Cake boxed cake mix in the pantry, you can use a Yellow cake mix and add in 1.5 teaspoons of Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon Sugar/Cinnadust if you just want cinnamon (both can be found in the seasoning aisle) – OR make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice with 1/2 teaspoon each: ground allspice and ground ginger AND 1/4 teaspoon each: ground nutmeg and ground cloves.
What can I add to my Oatmeal Cookies to Make them Better?
I didn’t add any extract to my cookies, but a teaspoon of vanilla extract would add a little extra sweetness. As far as additional add-ins, there are really endless possibilities! Most of the time, I like to keep it more traditional and do cranberries or raisins and pecans or walnuts, but it’s so easy to raid the pantry and use what you already have on hand, like chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch chips, chopped almonds, peanuts, pistachios or hazelnuts, candied ginger or dried cherries, candy bits like toffee or M&Ms – the sky is the limit!
How do you Store Oatmeal Cookies?
Store Oatmeal Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week.
Looking for another easy cookie recipe? Try out the Chocolate Mint Cookies – another cake mix recipe.
If you crochet, this is the Through the Window Hand Towel from my EyeLoveKnots blog, and there is a free pattern for it!
Ad-Free Printer Friendly PDF:
On Rockwood Lane newsletter subscribers get access to Exclusive Subscriber Content, like the free PDF of this pattern! Click the box below and Sign Up for Free! Grow will pop up, and you can enter your email address and create a password that you will enter each time to see Exclusive Content on On Rockwood Lane, or other designers blogs if they use Grow as well, like my sister blogs EyeLoveKnots and Cre8tion Crochet. If you already have a Grow account, simply click the button that says Switch to Log In. If you need to, you can reset your password or login in the Grow Publisher Portal.
For non-subscribers, if you would like a PDF version of this post, you may get one through my Etsy Shop for a small fee. This fee is to compensate for the views lost when you no longer need to return to the blog to for the information, as you will have your own copy. In a hurry? Pin this for later when you have more time!
Save To Your Favorites!
Recipe Lion, Cheap Thrifty Living, DIYideaCenter
Makes:
30 Cookies
Time Required:
Just over 45 minutes
- Mix ingredients (7 – 10 Minutes)
- Bake + Cooling x 3 (12 Minutes + 1 Minute Each Batch)
Cookie Ingredients I Used:
- 1 Box of Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
- 1 Stick of Butter (or 8 Tablespoons), Softened – mine is Plant Butter, which is Dairy Free, but any will do
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/2 Cups of Old Fashioned Oats
- 1/4 Cup of Dried Cranberries – I actually used Craisins
- 1/4 Cup of Chopped Pecans
You’ll Also Need:
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixer/Spoon/Spatula for Mixing Ingredients
- Measuring Cup and Spoons
- Pam, or Butter and Flour
- Cookie Sheet
- Optional, Cookie Scoop
- Optional, Aluminum Foil for Baking Sheet
- Plate or Cooling Racks for Cookies – I found mine at Ross in a pack of 3
Ingredient Notes:
CAKE MIX: Duncan Hines is my favorite cake mix to use. It makes the best soft and chewy cookies. I do not recommend Pillsbury for these because these will come out puffy and cakey instead (kind of like the top of a cupcake), but Betty Crocker does have a super moist series, and that might work, though I haven’t tested it.
If you want to make half of the quantity, it’s 1 cup + 2.25 tsp of cake mix.
If you can’t find Spice cake mix, you can use Carrot Cake cake mix or Yellow cake mix and add in 1.5 teaspoons of Pumpkin Pie Spice (found in the seasoning aisle) – You can get McCormick brand on Amazon, or try this homemade made from FlourAndHerbs on Etsy, OR 1/2 teaspoon each: ground allspice and ground ginger AND 1/4 teaspoon each: ground nutmeg and ground cloves.
ADD-INS: I didn’t add any extract to my cookies, but a teaspoon of vanilla extract would add a little extra sweetness. Feel free to substitute the cranberries and pecans for your desired add-ins, including, but not limited to chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch chips, chopped walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios or hazelnuts, dried fruit like cherries, raisins or candied ginger, candy bits like toffee or M&Ms – the sky is the limit!
COOKIE SCOOP: I bought a 1 1/2″ in diameter cookie scoop from Ross many years ago, and that is what I use, but I would recommend investing in a set of 3, which includes 1, 2 and 3 tablespoon scoops. They are so useful, and not just for making cookies, but I use them in other things too, like evenly scooping out cupcake mix into tins, and toppings. These cookies will come out about 3/4″ to 1″ larger than the scoop you use to drop the dough onto the cookie sheet.
Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookie Recipe:
Step 1: Pre-Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil, and spray with Pam or spread on a combination of flour and butter. Set aside.
Step 2: Mix the cake mix, butter, and eggs until combined and not lumpy.
Step 3: Hand mix in the oatmeal, cranberries and pecans.
Step 4: Scoop out 12 cookie balls (I do not roll mine into a ball), and drop them onto the cookie sheet. The cookies will not spread much, but after baking you will flatten – keep in mind though that the cookies will come out about 3/4″ to 1″ larger than the scoop you use to drop the dough onto the cookie sheet after flattening.
Step 5: Bake cookies for 12 minutes. They will turn out soft, and chewy!
Step 6: Gently pat down the tops so the cookies flatten, and let them cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, then move to a plate or cooling rack.
Repeat with remaining dough.
Store finished cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
Feel free to use this information to make and sell your own items. When sharing, designer credit is appreciated, but not required. All On Rockwood Lane Patterns, Recipes, Posts, Photos and PDF’s are protected under copyright. They are not to be copied, distributed or sold – doing so is copyright infringement and stealing! DO NOT copy and paste my pattern anywhere, and DO NOT share the written pattern with others, share the link to the pattern instead so others can find it themselves.
Join one of our awesome Facebook groups to share your creations, and see what others are up to!
– Yarn Crafts & Coffee Community
– DIY Home On Rockwood Lane
– Alexandra Lane Lifestyle
Leave a Reply