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

There’s something so satisfying about biting into soft, colorful cookies that practically scream holiday cheer. This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe is hands-down one of my go-to treats for the season—it’s quick, fun, and turns out beautifully every time. Let’s dive into what makes these crinkle cookies such a festive favorite.

A white plate filled with round crinkle cookies stacked closely together, showing two main colors: bright green and bright red. Each cookie is covered with a light layer of white powder that cracks on top, revealing the vibrant color beneath in an irregular pattern. The cookies are slightly puffy with a textured surface, and the plate rests on a white marbled texture background with some festive green and red decorations around it. 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’m always looking for festive cookies that come together with minimal fuss and maximum impact. This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe fits the bill perfectly—bright, vibrant colors, a crackly powdered sugar finish, and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Super Easy Base: Using a white cake mix gives the dough a perfect texture without complicated steps.
Customizable Colors: You can make these cookies festive with just a dab of red and green food coloring—no fancy decoration skills needed.
Quick to Bake: With under 20 minutes prep and cook time, these cookies are ideal when you want something festive but haven’t planned ahead.
Perfect Festive Look: The crinkly powdered sugar coating gives them that snowy, holiday vibe everyone loves.

The image shows round cookies placed on a gold cooling rack over a white marbled surface. The cookies have a cracked surface texture with a white powdered sugar layer on top, and bright red or green dough visible beneath the cracks. The cookies are arranged loosely across the rack, with the red cookies appearing in the lower and right parts of the image, while the green cookies are in the upper and left parts. The background is softly blurred with warm, festive colors suggesting decorations. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Let’s talk ingredients because understanding how they interact will help you get that perfect cookie texture and wonderful flavor. This recipe is straightforward but knowing a couple of tips can make your cookies even better.

Flat lay of a small mound of white cake mix powder on a simple white ceramic plate, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden olive oil, a small white ceramic bowl heaped with fine white powdered sugar, two small white ceramic bowls each containing vibrant red and green liquid food coloring droplets, arranged symmetrically with realistic proportions, placed 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: The star here—it keeps things simple while giving a moist, tender crumb that crinkles beautifully as it bakes.
Eggs: Bind everything together and help the dough hold its shape while adding richness.
Olive Oil: Adds moisture and keeps cookies soft without the heaviness of butter.
Powdered Sugar: Coating the dough balls in this before baking creates that iconic snowy crackle effect.
Food Coloring (Red & Green): Gives you eye-popping festive colors, with just a little to brighten the dough without overpowering flavor.

📝

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

One of the best parts? You can totally personalize these cookies to fit your style. I often switch up the colors or add a flavor twist—don't be shy to make it your own.

Variation: Sometimes, I add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the dough. It adds that cool holiday vibe without messing with the colorful look.
Dietary tweak: For egg-free baking, I've tried using flax eggs as a substitute, and while the texture changes slightly, you still get that delightful crinkle.
Seasonal change: Mix up the colors to match other holidays—think pastels for Easter or bright oranges and blacks for Halloween!

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

Step 1: Gather & Prep with Love

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. This little prep step ensures your cookies won’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze—trust me, you'll thank yourself later.

Step 2: Mix the Dough Just Right

In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, eggs, and olive oil. I like using a Danish dough whisk or a sturdy spoon here—electric mixers tend to make the dough a bit too thick and tough to handle. Stir until everything is just combined; overmixing isn't necessary.

Step 3: Divide & Color

Split the dough evenly into two bowls. Add red food coloring to one and green to the other, using separate toothpicks so the colors don’t bleed together. Mix well until you get that festive shade you've been dreaming of!

Step 4: Shape & Coat with Powdered Sugar

Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to portion out 1 ½ tablespoon-sized dough balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar to coat it completely—this is the secret to the crinkly top once baked.

Step 5: Bake & Cool (Almost There!)

Arrange the dough balls on your baking sheet with about 1 ½ inches spacing—they’ll spread a bit as they bake. Pop them in the oven for 9-12 minutes until the tops get those beautiful cracks. Let them cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a rack.

Top Tip

After making several batches, I’ve learned a few tricks that make all the difference for the perfect Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe. These helped me avoid common pitfalls and get cookie perfection every time.

Powdered Sugar Coating: Be generous with the powdered sugar—it's what creates that classic crinkle look and prevents the dough balls from sticking.
Don’t Overmix: Stir just enough to combine ingredients, or your cookies risk becoming tough instead of soft and tender.
Separate Toothpicks: Using different toothpicks for each color prevents accidental muddling, keeping your reds bright and your greens vibrant.
Spacing Matters: Give the dough balls enough room on the baking sheet—this keeps them from merging and preserves that perfect individual cookie shape.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Christmas Crinkle Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with these cookies—powdered sugar does most of the festive theme on its own. But if I’m feeling fancy, a light drizzle of white chocolate or a sprinkle of festive edible glitter adds a magical touch that dazzles your guests.

Side Dishes

When hosting, I like pairing these cookies with a hot mug of spiced cider or peppermint tea. They balance the sweetness perfectly and keep the cozy holiday vibe going strong.

Creative Ways to Present

I once arranged these in a circular pattern on a platter to mimic a festive wreath, adding fresh rosemary sprigs for greenery. It’s a simple trick that really wows and makes your cookie platter a conversation starter!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I recommend layering parchment paper between rows to keep them from sticking together and preserve that perfect powdered sugar coating.

Freezing

I freeze these cookies often because it’s nice to have festive treats ready to go. I freeze the dough balls on a tray first, then transfer them to a zip-top bag. When you’re ready, bake directly from frozen—just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To warm up leftover cookies, I pop them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This brings back that fresh-from-the-oven softness without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

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

Absolutely! While white cake mix gives a nice neutral base that lets the colors stand out, you can try yellow or even vanilla cake mix for a slightly different taste. Just keep in mind that darker mixes may affect the brightness of your food coloring.

Why don’t you recommend an electric mixer?

Using an electric mixer can overwork the batter and make it too thick, which then makes it hard to scoop and results in denser cookies. Stirring gently by hand keeps the dough light and easy to work with.

How do I get that perfect crinkle effect?

Coating the dough balls thoroughly in powdered sugar before baking is key. The dough expands during baking, cracking the sugar layer, which creates that signature crinkly look. Don’t skimp on the sugar coating!

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes! If you can find a gluten-free white cake mix, you can swap it in directly. The texture might vary slightly depending on the brand, but many gluten-free mixes work quite well for this recipe.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Crinkle Cookies Recipe has earned a permanent spot in my holiday baking lineup. It’s an easy, joyful recipe that always brings smiles—and those vibrant colors just add that extra festive punch. I really hope you give this one a try and enjoy the simple pleasure of making cookies that are as fun to make as they are to eat!