There’s something almost magical about cookie dough turning into festive little gems that melt in your mouth. This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe brings that joy with vibrant red and green swirls dusted in powdered sugar—perfect for holiday smiles around the kitchen table.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I adore how easy this Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe is, without ever skimping on that holiday wow factor. It’s a quick bake that always feels special because of those colorful crinkles and that tender, cakey texture.
- Simple ingredients: Using a white cake mix means you don’t have to fuss with complicated baking chemistry, so it’s perfect even if you’re new to baking cookies.
- Quick prep and bake time: You’ll have cookies ready in under 20 minutes - plenty of time left for sipping cocoa or wrapping gifts.
- Festive and fun: Bright red and green colors peek through the powdered sugar coating, making these cookies as joyful to look at as they are to eat.
- Kid-friendly activity: Rolling cookie balls and adding colors is a super fun way to get little hands involved in holiday baking.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe is ridiculously straightforward, which is why it’s one of my go-to’s during the busy holiday season. The cake mix gives the cookies a soft crumb and built-in flavor base, while the olive oil keeps the texture tender without heaviness. Here’s the lowdown on each ingredient:
- White Cake Mix: Using a boxed cake mix cuts down time but still delivers consistency, ensuring your cookies rise just right with a nice cakey crumb.
- Eggs: These bind the dough and add moisture, making sure your cookies don’t end up dry.
- Olive Oil: A bit of olive oil keeps the texture soft and moist. If you prefer, a neutral oil works too, but olive oil adds a subtle richness.
- Powdered Sugar: This keeps the cookies’ outside beautifully crackled and sweet without being gritty.
- Red and Green Food Coloring: Of course, the stars of the show – these vibrant colors bring holiday cheer right into your cookies!
Make It Your Way
I love how this recipe invites a bit of creativity. Sometimes I swap olive oil for melted butter for a richer flavor, or experiment with different shades of red and green to match my holiday decor. You really can’t go wrong.
- Variation: I once made half the batch with peppermint extract instead of plain—adding that festive minty twist really jazzed things up and made the cookies perfect for gifting.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Base Dough
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F and lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. I usually grab my trusty Danish dough whisk for this—no need for an electric mixer here because the dough can get too thick. Stir just until everything’s evenly blended.
Step 2: Divide and Color
Split your dough evenly between two bowls. Use separate toothpicks to add red food coloring to one and green to the other—this keeps the colors pure and bright. Mix each until you reach your favorite shade. Don’t be shy; a bit more color goes a long way with these cookies!
Step 3: Shape and Coat
Use a small scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons) to portion out the dough. Roll each ball in powdered sugar until fully coated—this is what gives the cookies their signature crinkle look. Place them on the prepared sheet with about 1.5 inches between each ball so they can spread perfectly.
Step 4: Bake and Cool
Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, keeping a close eye at the end. You want the cookies to be soft and slightly cracked on top but not browned. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. That little rest helps them set without breaking.
Top Tip
From personal trial and error, a few little tricks make a huge difference with this Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe. These helped me avoid common mistakes and toe that fine line between cakey softness and doughy underbaking.
- Use a Danish dough whisk or spoon: Resist the urge to mix with a handheld electric mixer—it thickens the dough too much and makes rolling tricky.
- Separate toothpicks: Use different toothpicks for each color to keep your reds vibrant and greens fresh without muddying the colors.
- Do not overcrowd: Give your cookies room to spread by spacing them well. I learned the hard way when cookies stuck and lost their perfect shape.
- Watch the baking time: Start checking at 9 minutes. These cookies look soft but will firm up as they cool, so pulling them out too soon can be a win.
How to Serve Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle a little extra powdered sugar over the cooled cookies for that fresh snow-dusted look—especially when serving at holiday parties. Sometimes, I add edible glitter for a sparkle effect that guests always love!
Side Dishes
These cookies go wonderfully alongside a warm cup of eggnog or hot cocoa with marshmallows. For a festive platter, I often serve them with peppermint bark and spiced nuts, creating a little holiday mix of treats everyone can enjoy.
Creative Ways to Present
One year I wrapped these crinkle cookies in clear cellophane tied with festive ribbon and tucked a sprig of rosemary inside for a piney touch. They made the most charming homemade gifts and brought loads of compliments!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, separated with parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking. They stay soft and fresh for about 4 days—perfect for snacking through the week.
Freezing
If you want to freeze some (great for making ahead of big gatherings), freeze the dough balls individually on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When ready, bake them straight from frozen—just add a couple extra minutes to the bake time.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked feeling, I heat cookies briefly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes. This softens them up without drying out, making every bite feel like the first batch right out of the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While the classic white cake mix gives that traditional look and flavor, feel free to experiment with yellow, vanilla, or even funfetti cake mixes to create different twists on this Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe.
If you prefer, you can substitute olive oil with a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil, or even melted butter for a richer taste. Keep in mind that butter will slightly change the texture, making it a bit denser but deliciously flavorful.
Rolling the dough balls generously in powdered sugar before baking is key to getting the signature crinkle look. Also, making sure you space the cookies properly on the baking sheet helps them spread without merging, creating those beautiful cracks.
Yes! You can prepare the dough and shape it into balls, then freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe container. When ready to bake, put the frozen dough balls directly on your baking sheet and add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Final Thoughts
This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe has become one of my holiday staples because it combines ease, cheer, and that cozy homemade feeling. Whether you’re baking with family or gifting neighbors, these cookies bring a little extra sparkle to the season. Give them a try—I promise you’ll be proud and delighted with every bite!
Print
Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 28 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in the festive spirit with these Christmas Crinkle Cookies made from a simple white cake mix. Soft, colorful, and perfectly coated in powdered sugar, they are an easy holiday treat that brings joy and vibrant color to your cookie platter.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 White Cake Mix (13.25 oz)
- 2 Eggs
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
Decoration
- ⅓ Cup Powdered Sugar
- Red Food Coloring
- Green Food Coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F to prepare for baking the cookies evenly.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or coat with nonstick baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. Mix it thoroughly using a Danish dough whisk or a large mixing spoon until all ingredients are well blended. Avoid using an electric mixer to prevent the dough from becoming too thick.
- Divide and Color Dough: Split the dough equally into two bowls. In one bowl, add red food coloring with a toothpick and mix well until the desired red hue is achieved. In the other bowl, add green food coloring using a different toothpick and mix until the dough turns a festive green color.
- Form Dough Balls: Use a small cookie scoop to roll dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls, ensuring uniform size for even baking.
- Coat in Powdered Sugar: Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar to coat completely, giving these cookies their signature crinkled appearance.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them 1 ½ inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes to achieve a soft and slightly chewy texture with cracking on the surface.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely before serving.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cool, serve these festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies and enjoy their delightful flavors and holiday cheer.
Notes
- Use separate toothpicks for each food coloring to avoid cross-contamination and achieve bright colors.
- If you prefer more vibrant colors, add a few drops of food coloring incrementally until you reach your desired shade.
- For uniform cookie size, use a small cookie scoop as recommended, approximately 1 ½ tablespoons per cookie.
- You can substitute olive oil with vegetable oil or melted butter for a different flavor profile.
- Make sure to space cookies properly on the baking sheet to prevent them from merging during baking.
- To store, keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 33 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg
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