These soft and fluffy Cake Mix Pumpkin Cookies are the best fall dessert made with only 2 ingredients! It’s a perfect shortcut to cozy pumpkin cookies that’s ready for the oven in minutes.
Can we all take a moment to appreciate the versatility of a boxed cake mix? I’ll use cake mix in recipes like Cake Mix Brownies and my ultra-moist Ridiculous Vanilla Cake. And then, there’s classic Cake Mix Cookies, which I love.
Today’s recipe is a delicious fall spin on pumpkin cookies with cake mix, made with only two (yes, TWO) ingredients! These moist and pillowy pumpkin cookies are so easy, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you must be missing something.
I love enjoying these cake mix pumpkin cookies while they’re still a little warm from the oven. The crumb is moist and tender, and the flavors really shine. I’ll wait until the rest have cooled before frosting them with buttercream. YUM.
Why You’ll Love These Cake Mix Cookies
Don’t get me wrong. I love a made-from-scratch recipe as much as anyone. But the sheer number of desserts that you can make from a humble cake mix is impressive. Here’s why you’ll love these cake mix pumpkin cookies:
Easy to make. These are the easiest pumpkin cookies that are ready for the oven in minutes. Simply combine boxed spice cake mix with pumpkin puree and BAM! It’s a perfect fall baking idea for beginners.
Warm pumpkin flavor. These soft, cakey pumpkin cookies are filled with the cozy flavors of pumpkin spice. It’s seriously the best, right up there with my homemade Pumpkin Cookies!
Perfect for fall. All that warming spice makes these the ultimate short-cut cookies for fall baking. Quick, tasty, and festive – it doesn’t get better!
What You’ll Need
Let’s have a quick look at the whopping two ingredients you’ll need to make these perfect pumpkin cookies! Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.
Pumpkin: You’ll need canned pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. There is a difference! See below for details.
Spice Cake Mix: You’ll find it with the other varieties of boxed cake mixes in the baking aisle. If you have trouble finding spice cake, a yellow cake mix plus a spoonful of pumpkin pie spice would also do the trick.
Is Canned Pumpkin and Pumpkin Pie Filling the Same Thing?
No, canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling are not the same. Pie filling won’t work in this recipe. Make sure you’re buying 100% canned pumpkin, or pumpkin puree when shopping for your cookie ingredients.
How to Make Cake Mix Pumpkin Cookies
Thanks to their simple ingredients, making these pumpkin cookies is a quick 3-step process:
Mix the dough. Mix together the pumpkin puree and cake mix until you have a smooth batter that’s free from any lumps.
Portion the cookies. These are drop cookies, so you don’t need any fancy cookie scoops or cookie cutters. Go ahead and plop spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a bit of space in between each cookie.
Bake. Pop your pumpkin cookies into a 350ºF oven to bake for 13-15 minutes. When the cookies are golden at the edges, take them out and leave them on the pan to cool a bit. After about 5 minutes, move the cookies to a wire rack.
Tips for Success
Starting with a ready-made cake mix takes a lot of the grunt work out of cookie baking! I’m forever a fan. Follow these tips for the best cake mix cookies:
Skip the ingredients on the cake mix box. That’s right! All you need is the cake mix itself, and your pumpkin puree. No eggs, oil – nothin’! Fun fact: pumpkin is sometimes used as a substitute for eggs and oil in baking. So, it works perfectly in this recipe.
If you’re decorating your pumpkin cookies, wait until they’ve cooled completely before you frost them. See below for easy decorating ideas!
The dough will be stickier than other cookie doughs you might be used to, and that’s totally fine. Be careful to not overmix the dough, or the cookies will turn out too dense.
Variations and Decorating Ideas
These cake mix cookies are delicious just as they are, in all their soft, cakey, pumpkin goodness. Of course, I couldn’t resist adding a dollop of Buttercream Frosting to each cookie after they’d cooled. More yum! These spiced pumpkin cookies are so easy to customize. Try these other ideas:
Frosting: I spruced up my buttercream with a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for more flavor. These cookies would taste amazing topped with Cream Cheese Frosting, too. Or, borrow the browned butter frosting from my Pumpkin Spice Pressed Sugar Cookies.
Toppings: Festive sprinkles are always a hit, and you can choose the colors depending on the holiday. These pumpkin cookies would be wonderful for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Add-ins: Mix white chocolate chips, caramel, or toffee bits into the batter.
Different Cake Mix: Spice cake mix works beautifully with these pumpkin cookies, but another variety like yellow or vanilla cake will also work. You could even try chocolate cake mix, though the pumpkin flavor will be more subtle. Add in a teaspoon or two of pumpkin pie spice to taste.
How to Store Pumpkin Cookies
Your frosted or unfrosted cake mix pumpkin cookies can be stored airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Can I Freeze Cake Mix Cookies?
Yes! Freezing these cake mix pumpkin cookies is a breeze. I prefer to freeze them unfrosted, but it’s also fine to freeze them after frosting, too. Store the cookies in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag, and keep them frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost your pumpkin cookies at room temperature before serving.
