Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies Recipe (aka Cheater Cookies!)

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Just FOUR ingredients in these yummy Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies (aka Cheater Cookies), you’ll be the hero when you pull these out of the oven in less than 30 minutes!

While I have improved my skills in the past several years, I still love making these Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies. They come together super fast, and I can have 2 dozen cookies cooling on racks within 30 minutes of starting.

They’re a TOTAL cheat, but who doesn’t love cheater cookies when they taste like this? There’s another version on this site too! Try these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies and tell me what you think!

Served with a large glass of milk, these are awesome for when the sweet tooth cravings strike.

My kids absolutely love these cookies. It’s hard for me to let anyone help in the kitchen, because of the mess created, but I allow them to scoop and roll!

These are AWESOME for last minute play dates, unexpected company arriving (I won’t tell your mother in law you cheated) or a fun and easy baking project you can do with the kids.

Try these cookies along with my super popular Slutty Brownies, or my Brownie Waffles!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• No special equipment. A bowl, a spatula to mix with, a scoop and a couple of cookie sheets are all you need!
• They are super easy to make. All you have to do is mix, roll and bake. Then, tie some string around them, and people think you’re SUPER fancy, trust me.
• Just 4 ingredients. Go check if you have them already!

These cookies have a million possibilities and ways to customize, based on what you have in your pantry.

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below. 

Box of chocolate cake mix. I use Devils Food Cake, but Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix also works. Any brand (I grab whatever is on sale, Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines are always good).

Oil. I use vegetable oil.

Egg. I use a large egg

Chocolate Chips. You can use chunks, regular sized or minis.

How to make this recipe:

Get prepped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats.

Mix

Mix all ingredients together, roll into balls and put on baking sheets several inches apart. You can press cookies with a fork to flatten if you wish.

Bake

Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes.

Cool

Remove from oven, and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Devour.

More cookie recipes to love:

• Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. Perfect chocolate chip cookies are the go-to, bees-knees, classic kind of cookie. Crispy, with a little chew, bursting with chocolate chips. Heaven.
• Crispy Chewy Oatmeal Cookies. These crispy chewy oatmeal cookies are my absolute ideal cookie. Crisp, with a slight chew, lots of vanilla, and butter and EASY to make!
• Simple Vanilla Caramel Cookies. Easy to make, and filled with aromatic vanilla and sweet caramel, this recipe for Simple Vanilla Caramel Cookies makes a wonderful tasting treat.
• Breakfast Cookies (Cranberry Oatmeal). Healthy Cranberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies with no butter, oil, eggs, flour, or sugar. Which means – I can approve eating cookies for breakfast. And so can you!
• Almond Butter Cookies. Soft and chewy, these almond butter cookies made from homemade almond butter. A treat for those with peanut allergies, and so good, everyone will love them!
• German Chocolate Cookies. German Chocolate Cake in cookie form! Soft, chewy chocolate cookies topped with a creamy, caramel/coconut/pecan frosting and drizzled with melted chocolate.

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Update: This recipe was originally published in June of 2012. It was updated in May of 2021.