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

There’s something truly magical about these crinkly, powdered-sugar-coated gems that just scream holiday cheer. The Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe is a quick and fun way to fill your kitchen with the scent and spirit of Christmas, perfect for sharing (or sneaking) right out of the oven.

A white round plate filled with two layers of crinkle cookies, alternating between red and green colors. Each cookie is cracked with white powdered sugar, giving a frosted look on top of the bright red and green bases. The cookies are piled up, showing uneven edges and a soft texture. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, and part of a festive decoration with shiny green, pink, and blue bells is visible in the top right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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

I’ve made these Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies year after year, and every time they bring a bit of magic to the holiday table. What makes them truly special is how easy they are to whip up — no complicated dough or hours of chilling, just simple ingredients and joyful colors that ignite holiday spirit.

Speedy and Simple: Using a white cake mix cuts baking time dramatically with minimal fuss.
Perfectly Festive Look: The red and green dough balls dusted in powdered sugar create that classic crinkle cookie look that’s irresistible and festive.
Kid-Friendly Fun: It’s such a blast to mix and color the dough with kids (or grown-ups!) — total holiday bonding time.
Delightfully Soft & Chewy: These cookies strike the perfect balance—soft inside with just enough chewiness to keep you coming back for more.

The image shows a dozen round cookies on a gold wire cooling rack placed over a white marbled surface. The cookies have a cracked texture with a bright color underneath a layer of white powdered sugar. Half of the cookies are bright green with white cracks on top, while the other half are bright red with similar white cracks. The cookies look soft and fluffy with uneven crack patterns on each one. In the background, blurred festive decorations add a warm, holiday feeling to the scene. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic behind this recipe is in the simplicity — just a few ingredients that combine effortlessly to make a cookie that tastes like holiday joy. Here’s why each one is essential and some tips for choosing them:

Flat lay of a small mound of fine white cake mix, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl filled with golden olive oil, a small white bowl with bright white powdered sugar, a small white bowl containing vibrant red liquid food coloring, and a small white bowl containing vibrant green liquid food coloring, all arranged with 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: Acts as your base — I recommend a quality mix with a light texture. It makes the dough easy to handle and guarantees soft cookies.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness — fresh eggs are always best here.
Olive Oil: Provides moisture and a subtle depth of flavor; I like using a mild olive oil so it doesn’t overpower the sweet.
Powdered Sugar: For coating — it’s what gives these cookies that signature crinkle effect and a delightful sweetness on the outside.
Red and Green Food Coloring: Pick gel or paste food coloring for vibrant hues without changing the dough texture.

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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 love tweaking this Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe to make it even more special. Don’t be shy about playing with the colors or adding a hint of spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough. It’s all about making these your own holiday hit!

Variation: Last year, I swapped part of the olive oil with melted butter for a richer flavor, and it brought a lovely buttery note I highly recommend.
Allergy-Friendly: For a dairy-free version, stick with olive oil and use an egg substitute like flax eggs — they worked wonderfully when I tried them for a gluten-intolerant friend.
Seasonal Twist: Adding peppermint extract or rolling the dough balls in colored sanding sugar before baking gives a sweet sparkle and an extra festive touch.

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

Step 1: Prep with care

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F and line your cookie sheet. I like using parchment paper because it’s reliable and makes cleanup easy, but a silicone baking mat works beautifully too. Avoid waiting until the dough’s ready to preheat — having your oven ready saves time and keeps the cookies baking evenly.

Step 2: Mix without overworking

In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. I usually reach for my Danish dough whisk since it mixes perfectly without turning the dough too dense, but a large spoon will do just fine. Avoid electric mixers here — they tend to make the dough too thick and hard to work with.

Step 3: Divide & color the dough

Split your dough evenly between two bowls. Using a clean toothpick for each, add red food coloring to one and green to the other. Stir thoroughly until you reach the vibrant colors you want. Trust me, little dots of color can turn into a lot, so add sparingly and build up intensity.

Step 4: Shape & coat

Grab a small cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoons) to portion dough balls – this makes them uniform, so they bake evenly. Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar until well coated. This not only makes them look stunning but helps create that signature crackled surface as they bake.

Step 5: Bake & cool

Place your sugared dough balls on the cookie sheet, giving about 1 ½ inches between each to allow spreading. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes — keep an eye on them and remove when the edges set but before they brown. Let them cool on the sheet for two minutes before moving them to a wire rack; this keeps them nice and soft inside.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make these festive cookies turn out perfect every time — I’m happy to share so you can skip the guesswork and just enjoy the baking and the eating!

Mixing Tool Matters: Using a non-electric mixer like a dough whisk helps keep the dough just right — too dense dough makes chewier cookies, which can feel heavy.
Food Coloring Control: Add food coloring gradually with a toothpick instead of dumping it in — vibrant, but never over-colored dough is the goal!
Proper Spacing: Give those dough balls space on your baking sheet. Trust me, they’ll spread nicely and not stick together if you leave about 1 ½ inches.
Don’t Overbake: Remove cookies as soon as the edges are set. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool, keeping that soft, chewy middle.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Christmas Crinkle Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and let these beauties shine, but if I want to dress them up, I dust a little extra powdered sugar right before serving or sprinkle some festive edible glitter for a holiday sparkle. Sometimes I even add tiny sugar pearls or mini chocolate chips right before baking for an extra pop.

Side Dishes

These cookies are fantastic alongside a warm mug of spiced hot cocoa or a cinnamon-infused coffee. For a party, I like pairing them with a cheese platter and fresh fruit — the contrast is surprisingly delightful!

Creative Ways to Present

One festive trick I love is arranging the cookies on a platter shaped like a wreath — red and green alternating makes a colorful circle that’s perfect for holiday guests. Gift-wise, a simple clear box tied with a red and green ribbon turns these into a sweet present anyone would cherish.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store my leftover Christmas Crinkle Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for about 4-5 days, but honestly, they rarely last that long! If you want to keep them fresh longer, adding a slice of bread inside the container helps maintain moisture.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully. After baking and cooling, I pop them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag with layers separated by parchment paper. When you’re ready, just thaw at room temperature — they come back soft and tasty without any fuss.

Reheating

If you want to refresh leftovers, I find warming them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes brings back that freshly baked texture. Avoid microwaving unless it’s a quick zap — too much heat there can make the cookies tough and dry.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different cake mix flavor for these cookies?

Absolutely! While white cake mix gives you that classic look and flavor, I've tried yellow and even lemon mixes for a fun twist. Just keep in mind the cookie color and taste will vary, which can be a delightful surprise!

How do I prevent the dough from being too thick?

I recommend mixing by hand or using a Danish dough whisk instead of an electric mixer, which can overwork the batter and make it too dense. Adding the olive oil ensures the dough stays soft and workable.

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before shaping and baking. Alternatively, baked cookies keep well stored in an airtight container for several days or can be frozen for later enjoyment.

What’s the secret to those perfect crinkly tops?

Coating the dough balls generously in powdered sugar before baking is key. As the cookies bake and expand, the sugar cracks beautifully to create that iconic crinkle pattern.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe has been a holiday staple in my kitchen because it captures that perfect balance of easy, beautiful, and delicious. Whether you’re baking with family or sending a sweet gift, these cookies never fail to bring smiles. I hope you enjoy making and sharing them as much as I do — trust me, they’ll become one of your favorites too!