An easy peanut butter cookie recipe made using cake mix is tasty and perfect for holiday gifts and snacks.
When you make a purchase using a link on this page, we may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please see About Us.
This easy peanut butter cookie recipe is a fun take on a classic cookie recipe and lunch box favorite.
Peanut butter cookies are a delicious snack or dessert cookie, but making them can be time consuming, especially during a busy week.
This take on the classic peanut butter cookie recipe takes a few short cuts to save time and hassle, while getting a tasty cookie that is perfect for packing in a lunch box or eating as a snack or dessert.
Using cake mix to make peanut butter cookies cuts out a few steps, saving you time in the kitchen.
How to Make Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. The parchment paper helps to prevent the cookies from sticking to the cookie sheet.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together light brown sugar, molasses, peanut butter, vanilla, vegetable oil, water, and eggs until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Add white cake mix and salt to the mixing bowl. Gently fold these ingredients into the wet ingredients mix.
The cookie dough should be thick at this point. Keep stirring until the ingredients just come together. Stir in ½ cup peanut butter baking chips, if desired.
Use a small ice cream scoop to remove about 1-½ to 2 tablespoons (Tbsp.) of peanut butter cookie dough from the bowl. Shape the dough into a ball, and then flatten slightly and place on the cookie on the cookie sheet.
Gently press a small amount of the remaining peanut butter baking chips into each cookie dough round (divide the peanut butter chips evenly among the cookies.)
Place the peanut butter cookie rounds on a cookie sheet to bake. Leave 2 inches between each cookie on all sides. It may be necessary to bake cookies in batches, depending on the size of the cookie sheet.
Bake the peanut butter cookies on the center oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookies comes out clean. In general, the shorter the baking time, the chewier the cookie—just be sure that cookies are fully cooked before eating them.
After removing the cookie sheet from the oven, let the cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then use a spatula to move the cookies to a cooling rack to cool before serving.
Tips on Making Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
- Use your favorite classic white cake mix to make this cake mix cookie recipe. Organic white cake mix and gluten-free cake mix can be used, also. Yellow cake mix may be substituted for white cake mix, but it may change the flavor profile.
- Cream the peanut butter, sugar, oil, water, and eggs together before adding the dry cake mix and peanut butter baking chips.
- Use crunchy peanut butter to add an interesting texture to the cookies.
- Stir the peanut butter well before adding it to the rest of the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Peanut butter has a tendency to separate in storage.
What You Need: Making Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
Here are some of the things that can be helpful for making cake mix peanut butter cookies.
Cake Mix. White cake mix helps you save a few steps and makes delicious, cake-like cookies that taste especially good when mixed with peanut butter and peanut butter baking chips.
Peanut Butter. Use 1 cup of peanut butter to flavor the cookies.
Peanut Butter Baking Chips. Peanut butter baking chips add another layer of flavor to the peanut cookies. Add 1 cup of chips to the cookie dough before baking.
Cookie Sheet. Use a cookie sheet to bake peanut butter cookies and other types of cookies.
Parchment Paper. Parchment paper keeps food from sticking to baking sheets and pans. Not only can parchment paper make it easier to remove cookies and other baked goods from pans, it can help make clean up easier, too.
Small Scoop. A small ice cream scoop is great for scooping out cookie dough. Use about 1-1/2 to 2 tablespoons of dough to make each cookie in this recipe.
Cookie Spatula. A cookie spatula is just the right size for lifting cookies from the cookie sheet to place them on the cooling rack. Cookie spatulas are also just the right size for lifting brownies from the pan.
Cooling Rack. A cooling rack helps cookies to cool more evenly.
Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp molasses
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 Tbsp water
- 3 large eggs
- 1 15.25 oz box white cake mix
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup peanut butter baking chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add light brown sugar, molasses, peanut butter, vanilla, vegetable oil, water, and eggs to a large mixing bowl. Stir ingredients until a creamy mixture forms.
- Add white cake mix and salt to the bowl. Stir to combine ingredients. The cookie dough should be thick at this point. Stir in ½ cup peanut butter baking chips, if desired.
- Use a small ice cream scoop to remove about 1-½ to 2 Tbsp of peanut butter cookie dough from the bowl. Shape into a ball, and then flatten the ball slightly.
- Gently press a small amount of the remaining peanut butter baking chips into each cookie dough round. Divide the peanut butter chips evenly among the cookies.
- Place the peanut butter cookie rounds on a cookie sheet to bake. Leave 2 inches between each cookie on all sides. It may be necessary to bake cookies in batches, depending on the size of the cookie sheet.
- Bake the peanut butter cookies on the center oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookies comes out clean.
- After removing the cookie sheet from the oven, let the cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then use a spatula to move the cookies to a cooling rack to cool before serving.
Looking for more of the best cookie recipes?
- The Best Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
- How to Make the Tastiest Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe
This post was all about how to make cake mix peanut butter cookies.
credits
- Photo by chas53 / Canva
- Photos are for illustrative purposes only.
Related Posts
