Name: Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 package 13.25 oz white cake mix; 2 eggs; 1/3 cup olive oil; Red food coloring (to taste); Green food coloring (to taste); 1/3 cup powdered sugar (for coating)

There’s something truly magical about biting into a cookie that’s as cheerful as the season itself. These vibrant, soft, and powdered-sugar-dusted crinkle cookies bring that sparkle right to your plate. That’s why I’m excited to share this Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe that’s simple, quick, and packs all the holiday joy in every bite.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe is a holiday go-to for me—so easy that even last-minute cookie cravings get handled without breaking a sweat, yet special enough to make gift bags and cookie exchanges stand out.

Lightning Fast Prep: Using a white cake mix means you can skip complicated dough-making steps and jump straight to flavor and fun.
Bright and Festive Colors: The red and green dough makes these cookies look like they belong on every holiday dessert tray.
Soft, Tender Texture: Unlike crunchy holiday cookies, these stay soft and melt-in-your-mouth, perfect for those cozy winter afternoons.
Great for All Skill Levels: Whether you bake once a year or weekly, this recipe’s forgiving nature guarantees success.

The image shows a cooling rack with colorful cookies arranged in rows on a white marbled surface. The cookies are round with a cracked texture, covered unevenly with white powdered sugar, revealing bright green and red layers underneath. The sugar is spread in patches, creating a cracked look that contrasts with the vibrant cookie base. The rack is metallic with thin grid lines, holding the cookies slightly elevated above the surface. In the soft blurry background, you can see some reddish decorative balls adding a festive touch. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays its part perfectly to create cookies that feel store-bought but taste homemade. Using a boxed white cake mix is the secret shortcut, while eggs, olive oil, and a touch of powdered sugar balance richness and texture beautifully.

Flat lay of a small mound of white cake mix powder on a simple white ceramic plate, two whole brown eggs with clean shells resting beside it, a small white bowl filled with golden olive oil, a small white bowl holding fine white powdered sugar, a small white bowl containing vivid red liquid food coloring, and another small white bowl with bright green liquid food coloring, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

White Cake Mix: This gives you the base with moisture and structure without the fuss—make sure it’s a good quality mix for the best flavor.
Eggs: These bind everything together and add richness.
Olive Oil: I love using olive oil here because it keeps cookies super tender and adds a subtle depth of flavor.
Powdered Sugar: Used for coating, it creates that signature crinkle look and adds a sweet finish.
Red and Green Food Coloring: Go for gel-based food colors—they pack brighter color without thinning your dough.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to get a little playful with these crinkle cookies. The base is perfect, but you can let your imagination run wild with subtle tweaks and fun accents.

Variation: One of my favorite twists is adding a pinch of cinnamon or almond extract to the dough for an extra festive aroma.
Dietary Switch: You can swap olive oil for melted coconut oil for a hint of tropical warmth that pairs amazingly with the cake mix.
Color Play: Try a swirl effect by gently folding in different colors for a marbled Christmas vibe.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prepping the Oven and Baking Surface

First things first, I preheat my oven to 375°F. It’s crucial to get that temperature right early on because it ensures the cookies bake evenly and get that perfect little crunch outside while staying soft inside. I always line my cookie sheet with parchment paper—it makes cleanup super easy and keeps my cookies from sticking, which I know can be frustrating.

Step 2: The Magic Mix

In a large bowl, I combine the white cake mix with the eggs and olive oil. I prefer using a Danish dough whisk for mixing—it's perfect for combining dry and wet ingredients without overworking the dough. If you don’t have one, a big wooden spoon is just fine! Just avoid electric mixers here, since the batter can get too thick and tough, which makes shaping harder.

Step 3: Coloring the Dough

Next, I split the dough evenly into two bowls. Using clean toothpicks, I add some red food coloring to one bowl and green to the other. You want to add a little at a time and mix thoroughly until the colors are rich and festive—too much food coloring can make the dough sticky, so don’t overdo it. This step feels like holiday magic happening right before your eyes!

Step 4: Rolling and Coating

Now the fun part—rolling that vibrant dough into small balls about 1 ½ tablespoons each. I use a mini cookie scoop to keep sizes consistent because evenly sized cookies bake uniformly. After rolling, I toss each ball generously in powdered sugar to get that iconic crinkle effect once baked.

Step 5: Baking and Cooling

I arrange the dough balls on the cookie sheet, leaving about an inch and a half between each to allow plenty of room for spreading. Bake them for 9 to 12 minutes until you see the lovely cracks forming on top but the cookies are still soft to the touch. Let them cool on the sheet for two minutes—this step helps the cookies set so they don’t break when you transfer them to a rack.

Top Tip

I’ve made these cookies many times for holiday parties, and these tips saved me from soggy or flat cookies more than once. Trust me, these tricks will keep your cookies looking and tasting their very best.

Gentle Mixing: Don’t overmix the dough—stop as soon as all ingredients are combined to keep the texture tender.
Use Gel Food Coloring: It gives you vibrant colors without watering down the dough.
Proper Spacing: Give your dough balls enough room to spread; otherwise, you’ll end up with cookie blobs!
Cooling Time: Always cool briefly on the baking sheet before moving; it helps the cookies hold their shape and last longer.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Christmas crinkle cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a little extra powdered sugar just before serving to make these cookies look like freshly fallen snow—adds that cozy holiday vibe. For parties, a small dusting of edible glitter or finely chopped pistachios adds a delicate festive touch too.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair perfectly with hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or a strong cup of spiced holiday coffee. If you’re hosting a cookie platter, they hold their own alongside gingerbread men and peppermint bark beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I wrapped a batch in clear treat bags tied with twine and a sprig of rosemary—so simple, yet it looked so charming on cookie exchange tables. Another time, I arranged them on a tiered stand with small holiday ornaments tucked in between for a festive centerpiece that guests couldn’t stop admiring.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They usually stay fresh and soft for about 4-5 days—which means there’s just enough time to enjoy a few as a sweet holiday treat without worrying about rushing through them.

Freezing

Freezing the dough balls before baking works wonders if you want fresh cookies on demand. Just scoop and freeze them on a tray, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready, bake straight from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

I reheat leftover cookies gently in a low oven (around 300°F) for 3-4 minutes or pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds wrapped in a slightly damp paper towel—this revives that soft texture without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different cake mix flavor for this recipe?

Absolutely! While the white cake mix gives the brightest color and classic vanilla flavor, you can experiment with yellow or even spice cake mixes to add unique undertones to your cookies. Just keep in mind the color might affect how vibrant the red and green turn out.

What’s the best way to prevent food coloring from making the dough too sticky?

Using gel food coloring instead of liquid helps keep the right dough consistency without adding extra moisture. Also, add the color gradually—start with a toothpick dipped in the gel and mix well before adding more. If your dough gets too sticky, a little extra powdered sugar can help balance it out.

Can I make these cookies vegan or gluten-free?

You can make a gluten-free version by choosing a gluten-free white cake mix—just verify all other ingredients fit your dietary needs. For a vegan version, you’d need to swap eggs and potentially the oil; try flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoon water per egg) and a neutral vegetable oil for best results. Keep in mind texture may vary slightly.

How can I make sure these cookies stay soft for longer?

Storing cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread inside helps maintain their softness—the bread keeps moisture inside the container without making the cookies soggy. Also, avoid overbaking; pull the cookies from the oven once cracks appear, and the surface is set, even if centers feel slightly soft.

Final Thoughts

These Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies have become a highlight of my holiday baking traditions—they’re just as joyful to make as they are to share. I promise they’ll bring warm smiles and a pop of color to your gatherings, plus the satisfaction of a no-fail holiday treat you’ll reach for again and again. I hope you enjoy baking (and eating) them as much as I do—happy holidays!