This homemade Lemon Cake Mix Crinkle Cookie recipe is the ultimate bakery fresh lemon cookies recipe without any hassle or mess. Their soft, chewy center, crackly sugar outside and bright lemon flavor make these a perfect springtime treat! No one has to know they only take minutes to make!
I’ve made cake mix cookies for years because they’re just so easy and always turn out delicious. Starting with a box of cake mix skips a lot of measuring and mixing, but still gives you soft, fluffy, chewy cookies every time. This was actually the first cookie recipe my daughter made on her own because it’s that simple. These lemon crinkle cookies are perfect for spring baking, parties, holidays, or anytime a lemon craving hits.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy ingredients – There’s nothing tricky about this ingredient list. Just grab a box of lemon cake mix and you probably have the rest in your fridge and pantry.
- Comes together in minutes – When was the last time it only took you 5 minutes to make cookie dough? The only thing faster would be to buy premade dough- ha! But it surely wouldn’t be this delicious!
- Texture – The perfect thick, soft on the outside, chewy on the inside cookie!
- Crowd pleaser – The combination of the perfect texture with bright lemony flavor makes this the kind of cookie no one will turn down!
Recipe Notes
This Lemon Cake Mix Cookie recipe is as simple as promised! Just a 5 easy ingredients and 5 minutes of time are all it takes for a family friendly quick dessert option.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make these easy cake mix cookies to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Box of Lemon Cake Mix – Grab your favorite brand.
- Eggs – The large eggs and flour will help bind the cookies together before you roll them in the powdered sugar.
- Flour – You’ll only need 1/4 cup.
- Butter – Melted
- Powdered Sugar – Only a bit for rolling the cookie dough balls in.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Strawberry Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies– Simply substituting the lemon cake mix for strawberry cake mix will give you another delicious spring or summer flavor option.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies – Substitute the boxed cake mix for chocolate mix, then stir in peanut butter chips to your batter. Decadent!
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies – Substitute the cake mix for red velvet cake mix.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make these easy Lemon Cake Mix Cookies.
Combine lemon cake mix, flour, melted butter and eggs. Mix until stiff batter forms.
Form heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into balls.
Roll each ball in bowl of confectioners sugar to cover generously.
Bake in batches on parchment lined baking sheet in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until centers are just set.
Recipe Tips
- More powdered sugar – I think it’s easier to roll the dough in powdered sugar when you use more than 1/4 cup and pile it up in a small bowl, but you do end up wasting some and tossing it at the end.
- Parchment paper – Parchment paper keeps the cookies from sticking to the pan and makes for fast and easy cleanup!
- Give space – I recommend setting them 2 inches apart. They will spread as they bake.
- Allow to sit – When these come out of the oven they are almost like a gooey and molten cake in the middle. Don’t worry and then overcook. Once they sit for 15-20 minutes they will set and just be dense in the best way.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Make the dough in advance – You can easily make the dough before you’ll bake it. You can either place the covered bowl of cookie dough into your fridge until you’re ready to portion the cookies. Or you can go ahead and scoop individual cookie dough ball portions, roll them in the confectioners sugar and then place them in the fridge.
- Freeze cookies before or after baking – Take a look at my instructions below for how to freeze your lemon crinkle cookies either before or after baking. There are so many options to make this super fast recipe even faster!
- Parchment paper – Again, parchment paper is just the best for fast and easy cleanup! A silicone mat is also great.
How to Freeze Cookies
Cookies can be frozen before or after baking. If freezing the cookie dough, you can easily pop out however many you need and bake so they are warm and fresh for serving.
If you prefer, you can bake all the cookies and then freeze. Freezing the baked cookies will preserve them. Once thawed, they come out just as soft, chewy and fresh as they were when initially baked.
To freeze before baking
- Make the cookie dough as instructed, portion into individual balls of dough and roll in powdered sugar.
- Line the dough balls onto a cookie sheet then stick them into the freezer until hardened. No need to set them 2 inches apart since they won’t be baking and spreading in this step.
- Once the cookie dough balls are frozen, transfer them into a freezer-safe bag, then store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to bake the cookies, place them 2 inches apart on a baking sheet and bake as directed!
To freeze baked cookies
- Allow the cookies to cool completely.
- Transfer the cookies to an airtight container or freezer bag.
- When you’re ready to enjoy them, take however many you’d like from the freezer. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for a few minutes.
How to store cookies
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They can be easily saved to enjoy at another time!
To save leftovers, place in an airtight container and store:
- on the counter for 2-3 days
- in the refrigerator for up to a week
- in the freezer up to 2 months
Recipe FAQ’s
How do the cookies crinkle?
The cookies crinkled appearances comes from the powdered sugar they’re rolled in. As the cookies bake and expand, the surface breaks, creating a snowy, crinkle effect.
Can I put mix ins in my cookies?
You can absolutely put shelf stable ingredients such as sliced almonds, walnuts or chocolate chips into your dough. I would advise against diced fresh fruit, as they will cause your cookie dough to become too soft or even watery.
Why do you add additional flour to this cake mix recipe?
Great question! The flour provides the necessary structure, while creating the signature “cracks,” to keep the cookies thick and chewy, without spreading too thin.
More EASY Cookie Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy cookie recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below for another sweet treat.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Key Lime Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Birthday Cake Cookies
- The BEST Soft Sugar Cookies
- Wyoming Cowboy Cookies
- Lemon Meltaway Cookies
Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box lemon cake mix
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- In a large bowl, add the lemon cake mix, flour, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until a stiff batter forms.
- Form heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into balls, then roll each ball in powdered sugar to cover generously.
- Bake on parchment lined baking sheet for 8-10 minutes, or until centers are just set.Let cool for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes
- I think it is easier to roll in the powdered sugar when you use more than 1/4 cup and pile it up in a small bowl, but you do end up wasting some and tossing it at the end.
- When these come out of the oven they are almost like a gooey and molten in the middle! Once they sit for 15-20 minutes they will set and just be dense in the best way. Both are delicious!
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