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Super Easy Easter Cake Mix Cookies

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Last Updated on March 31, 2025

These Easter cake mix cookies only need a few ingredients and very little time to prepare so you can have Easter treats in about 30 minutes.

Easter Cake Mix Cookies on a glass plate.

I love helping out with my kids’ classroom parties. The problem is, my kids usually forget to tell me until the last minute (or I forget to jot them down in my calendar) so I’m scrambling to whip up something that doesn’t look like I just threw it together (even though that’s exactly what I’m doing).

My go-to recipe for these last-minute classroom treat “emergencies” is cake mix cookies. They only require 3 ingredients and are easy to tailor to any theme, like these these super easy Easter cake mix cookies or strawberry cake mix cookies for Valentine’s Day or anniversaries.

Jump to:

Why is Carrot Cake Associated with Easter?

Since I made these cake mix cookies for Easter, I used carrot cake mix—but, why is carrot cake associated with Easter?

  • The Easter Bunny is traditionally depicted as fond of carrots and some kids even leave out carrots for the Easter Bunny. So, it makes sense that carrot-based dishes, including carrot cake, are popular during Easter celebrations.
  • Easter occurs in spring, a time when carrots are harvested. Incorporating fresh, seasonal produce like carrots into dishes aligns with the themes of renewal and rebirth associated with the season.
  • During the Middle Ages, when sugar was scarce and expensive, carrots were used as a sweetener in desserts. This tradition continued into the period of Lent and Easter, a time of fasting and abstinence in the Christian calendar, because it allows for a sweet treat without relying on expensive sweeteners. 

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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Besides needing only need a few ingredients and very little time to prepare, you’ll love these Easter treats because they’re:

  • Easy to make: All you have to do is mix the ingredients, scoop out the dough, bake the cookies, then decorate.
  • Fun to make: You and your kids will have so much fun making these cookies together. You can work on each step together, or make an assembly line and each person is assigned a task or everyone works their way down the line and gets to do each step (it depends on the age of your children).
  • Always a hit at parties: If you bring these to a classroom party, the kids are going to love these cookies with the cute bunnies on top. In case your neighborhood has a party, you could let the kids have fun and frost their own cookies and put the bunny on top.

For more fun with Peeps, try these Easter pudding cups.

🥘 Ingredients

A box of carrot cake mix sits on a granite countertop alongside a measuring cup with oil and two eggs.

You only need a total of 5 ingredients to make this entire recipe. You probably already have some of them at home and the rest will be easy to find at the store.

  • Cake mix: You will need a box of carrot cake mix. Any brand is fine.
  • Canola oil or vegetable oil: Since both oils have a neutral flavor and similar baking properties, you can use whichever one you prefer. Any brand is fine.
  • Eggs: The eggs help hold the ingredients together and give the cookies a light and tender texture.
  • Whipped cream cheese frosting: This type of frosting is easier to spread on cookies and cream cheese is usually associated with carrot cake. Any brand is fine.
  • Peeps: There are so many different flavors of Peeps available now, it doesn’t matter which flavor you use.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities

🔀 Substitutions

If you don’t have the ingredients you need or if you have different dietary preferences, see if you have these instead:

Cake mix: If you need to, you can use a gluten-free cake mix.

Canola oil or vegetable oil: You can substitute melted butter in equal amounts for a richer flavor. If you want to make this healthier, you can use the same amount of Greek yogurt for softer cookies and added protein.

Eggs: For a vegan alternative, use flaxseed eggs. You can use 1/2 cup mashed banana or 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce for a healthier version.

Whipped cream cheese frosting: Regular cream cheese frosting will be slightly denser, but it will still work well. You can make your own frosting by mixing 4 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup powdered sugar.

Peeps: If you don’t have Peeps, a regular marshmallow would work. Or, you could just leave off the Peeps.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

These holiday cookies can easily be customized to fit your personal tastes.

  • Cake Mix Flavor Variations: Use lemon cake mix paired with vanilla or lemon frosting for a bright and springy flavor and look. You could also use funfetti cake mix to look extra festive with the sprinkles baked in.
  • Add-Ins for Extra Flavor: Add white chocolate chips for a creamy, sweet crunch or shredded coconut for a tropical twist, perfect for spring. You could also add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for crunch and a nutty flavor.
  • Topping Options: Instead of Peeps, you could top the cookies with jelly beans, mini chocolate eggs or pastel M&Ms. Before adding the Peep, you could put Easter-themed pastel sprinkles on the frosting to make the cookies extra fun.

For a different themed Easter dessert, try these cute Easter Oreo chicks.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this easy recipe. So, gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this tasty dessert.

  • Mixing bowl: You’ll need a large bowl to combine all of the ingredients.
  • Medium cookie scoop: Use this to scoop the cookie dough, so you’ll be sure they’re the right size for the decorations.
  • Baking sheet: This is where you’ll bake the cookies.
  • Wire cooling rack: The cookies will cool on this when they’re done baking.

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🔪 How to Make Easter Cake Mix Cookies

Even though regular homemade cookies don’t take a ton of time, when you’re really short on time, these cake mix cookies will save you precious minutes.

Step 1: Preheat Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Mix well.

Step 3: Scoop out the Dough

Use a cookie scoop to place dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. I used the medium scoop because I needed the cookies to be large enough to hold the decorations I had planned for them.

You should get 24 cookies out of one box of cake mix if you scoop the right amount for each cookie.

A baking tray with twelve evenly spaced raw cookie dough balls.

Step 4: Bake The Cookies

The cookies need to bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges are set, but the center is slightly soft—also there will be a few cracks on the top which shows they’ve expanded properly.

Twelve round cookies are evenly arranged on a baking tray placed on a granite countertop.

Step 5: Cool the Cookies

Let them sit on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely (at least 15-20 minutes).

Step 6: Frost The Cookies

After they cool, you can frost them. I used whipped cream cheese frosting because it’s easy to spread and to me, carrot cake just screams for cream cheese frosting.

A hand holds a cookie, topped with a generous spread of white frosting.

Step 7: Top With A Peep

Finally, to add the “wow” factor (for an elementary-school audience) and to go ahead and pile on the sugar so their teacher and parents will appreciate you, top each cookie with a peep.

A hand holds a delightful cookie topped with white frosting and a purple peep.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Load them up on a platter or in a storage container and voilà, you’ve made enough Easter-themed treats for an entire classroom full of kids in just about half an hour!

Easter Cake Mix Cookies on a glass plate.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to make sure that your Easter Oreo Cake Mix Cookies turn out perfectly.

  • You can cover the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat which prevents sticking and ensures even baking—better than greasing the pan!
  • Stir the dough just until combined to avoid dense cookies. Overmixing can make them tough.
  • If your dough feels sticky, refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes before baking. This helps prevent spreading and makes the cookies thicker and chewier.
  • Keep cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread to stay soft longer!

❓ Recipe FAQs

How long do they stay fresh?

Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3-4 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes, you can freeze unfrosted baked cookies for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the cookie dough in balls and bake them without thawing—just add 1-2 minutes to the bake time.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! Just double all the ingredients and bake in batches.

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Easter Cake Mix Cookies:

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📋 Recipe

A glass plate brimming with Easter cake mix cookies topped with white frosting and marshmallow bunnies in pink, purple, and yellow sits on a blue plaid tablecloth.

Super Easy Easter Cake Mix Cookies

Corinne Schmitt
These Easter cake mix cookies only need a few ingredients and very little time to prepare so you can have Easter treats in about 30 minutes!
5 from 24 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 246 kcal

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Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Medium cookie scoop
  • Baking sheet
  • Wire cooling rack

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box carrot cake mix
  • 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 container whipped cream cheese frosting
  • 24 Peeps®

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • In a large bowl, combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Mix well.
    1 box carrot cake mix, 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil, 2 eggs
  • Use a cookie scoop to place dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. 
  • Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges are set, but the center is slightly soft—also there will be a few cracks on the top which shows they’ve expanded properly.
  • Let them sit on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely (at least 15-20 minutes).
  • Once cooled, frost each cookie with whipped frosting. Then, top each cookie with one peep.
    1 container whipped cream cheese frosting, 24 Peeps®

Notes

Pro Tips

  • You can cover the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat which prevents sticking and ensures even baking—better than greasing the pan!
  • Stir the dough just until combined to avoid dense cookies. Overmixing can make them tough.
  • If your dough feels sticky, refrigerate it for 15-20 minutes before baking. This helps prevent spreading and makes the cookies thicker and chewier.
  • Keep cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread to stay soft longer!
 

Recipe FAQs

How long do they stay fresh?
Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3-4 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
 
Can I freeze these cookies?
Yes, you can freeze unfrosted baked cookies for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the cookie dough in balls and bake them without thawing—just add 1-2 minutes to the bake time.
 
Can I double this recipe?
Yes! Just double all the ingredients and bake in batches.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 186mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Corinne Schmitt

Corinne Schmitt

Hi, I'm Corinne! I'm the mom behind Wondermom Wannabe, helping busy moms simplify life with easy meals, fun family activities, and stress-free organization. As a mom of five, I know how overwhelming it can be—so I share practical, real-life tips to make things easier!

4 thoughts on “Super Easy Easter Cake Mix Cookies”

  1. Pingback: Easter Bingo
  2. Pingback: 3 Ingredient Banana Bread
  3. Pingback: 25 Easy and Delicious Cake Mix Cookies
  4. So very cute and I’m always looking for quick but still impressive ideas. This is perfect for our family Easter get together.

    Reply
5 from 24 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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