Orange Cake Mix Cookies: Zesty Orange Cookie Recipe

Soft and chewy, quick and easy orange cookies made with cake mix and simple pantry ingredients. These homemade cookies are loaded with orange zest, juice, and extract for a bright citrus flavor—often called creamsicle cookies.

These cookies have a lightly crisp exterior from rolling in granulated sugar while remaining soft and tender inside. The citrus profile is amplified with fresh orange zest, a bit of orange juice, and orange extract. Serve them plain or top with a simple orange buttercream or glaze for extra flair.

Key ingredients

• Oil – Use a neutral-flavored oil.
• Eggs – Large eggs at room temperature.
• Fresh oranges – You’ll need zest and juice for best flavor.
• Extract – Orange extract or emulsion for concentrated citrus aroma.
• Orange food coloring – Gel coloring provides richer color without thinning the dough.
• Cake mix – Yellow or vanilla box mix; orange cake mix works if available.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar for coating the dough balls to add a slight crunch.

How to make easy orange cookies with cake mix

1. Whisk together the eggs, oil, orange zest, orange juice, orange extract, and coloring until combined and slightly fluffy.
2. Add the cake mix and stir until just combined—avoid over-mixing.
3. Chill the dough for 20–30 minutes so it’s easier to handle.
4. Scoop and roll the dough into small balls.
5. Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat.
6. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until edges are set and centers are still slightly soft.

Tips and techniques

• Which cake mix? Orange cake mix is ideal when you can find it, but yellow cake mix with fresh zest, juice, and extract makes excellent orange-flavored cookies.
• Room temperature ingredients – Ensures smooth blending and even texture.
• Avoid over-mixing – Mix just until combined to keep cookies tender.
• Use oil, not butter – Oil keeps the cookies lighter and chewier; butter can make them denser.
• Sugar coating – Granulated sugar gives a pleasant crunch; use powdered sugar for a crinkle-style finish.
• Chill the dough – Chilling reduces stickiness and prevents excessive spread while baking.

Variations

• Chocolate orange – Fold in ¾ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips after mixing the dough.
• Chocolate dip or drizzle – Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate or drizzle for a decorative finish.
• Add-ins – Try toasted nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, or crushed cookies for different textures.
• Cranberry orange – Fold in ½ cup chopped dried cranberries for a festive twist; finish with white chocolate drizzle if desired.
• Cookie sandwiches – Sandwich two cookies with buttercream or cream cheese frosting.
• Frosted cookies – Top cooled cookies with a thin layer of orange buttercream or glaze.
• Stuffed cookies – Enclose a soft caramel or chocolate candy in the center of each dough ball before baking.
• Crinkle finish – Roll dough balls in powdered sugar for a snowy crinkle look.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Refrigerate – Store in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze – Freeze unbaked dough balls (without sugar coating) up to 1 month. Roll in sugar and bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
• Room temperature – Store in a cookie jar for 1–2 days for best texture.
• Make ahead – Dough can be prepared 1–2 days in advance and chilled until ready to shape and bake.

More doctored cake mix desserts

• Easy Black Forest Cake With Cake Mix
• Oreo Cupcakes With Cake Mix
• Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake (Cake Mix)
• Red Velvet Cookies With Cake Mix
• Chocolate Banana Bread With Cake Mix
• Easy Apple Cake With Cake Mix
• Cake Mix Cookie Bars
• Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
• Easy Cake Mix Brownies
• Cake Mix Champagne Cupcakes
• Eggnog Cookies

Recipe

Easy Orange Cookies (With Cake Mix)

Soft and chewy, quick and easy orange cookies made with doctored cake mix and simple ingredients—zest, juice, and orange extract boost the citrus flavor.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Chill time 20 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 20 Cookies

Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons orange extract
• Orange gel coloring, as desired
• 1 box yellow cake mix (or orange cake mix if available)
• 1 cup granulated sugar, for rolling
• Orange buttercream frosting (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, orange zest, orange juice, orange extract, and gel coloring until slightly fluffy.
2. Add the cake mix and stir until just combined.
3. Chill the dough for 20–30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
4. Scoop small portions and roll into balls.
5. Roll each ball in granulated sugar to coat.
6. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them a couple of inches apart.
7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers are slightly soft.
8. Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Optionally frost or drizzle with orange glaze once cooled.

Notes

• Refer to the tips section above for best results.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 174 kcal

Carbohydrates: 31 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 4 g

Sugar: 21 g | Sodium: 194 mg

Automated calculation is used for nutrition; values are estimates and not guaranteed.

Until next time, tata my lovelies!