Easy Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese

Ready to bake up a party? Yup! I’m talking about easy-to-make, whimsical Funfetti cake mix cookies (with cream cheese).

Cake mix cookies are a soft, gooey, irresistible dessert. These vibrant cookies explode with colorful bits in the batter and on top of the frosted cookie.

It’s always a fantastic time for Funfetti cookies! So, grab your sprinkles and let the magic begin.

Why You'll Keep Coming Back to This Recipe     

• Funfetti cookies are popular with everyone. Whether for birthday parties, potlucks, or everyday treats, these cookies are sure to be a hit. There’s just something about Funfetti that everyone loves.

• Quick and simple dessert to make. This is an easy cookie recipe kids can help make. Using a box of cake mix speeds up the prep process.

• Easily customizable with colorful sprinkles: Mix and match fun sprinkles for different occasions. You can find many holiday, baby shower, or pop culture jimmies in grocery stores or online.

RELATED: You may also like this recipe for Funfetti cake mix cookie sandwiches. They're the most cheerful sandwiches around.

Ingredients

You likely have most of these simple ingredients on hand already. Here's your list:

• Box of Funfetti cake mix: The star of our show! This cheerful mix comes with colorful candy bits that will make your cookies party-ready in no time.
  
  I prefer Pillsbury’s premium Funfetti cake mix (the white cake batter). However, you can also use the Funfetti yellow or strawberry cake mix.
  
  Or, if you prefer, use Great Value confetti cake mix.

• Butter: Butter adds a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture to your cookies and a creaminess to your frosting. Use unsalted butter since the cake mix already contains salt.
  
  Ensure the butter that goes in the cookies is at cool room temperature, approximately 65 to 70°F (18 to 20°C), for optimal results. You'll know it's at the right temperature when it's cool to the touch, and you can easily make an indentation with your finger.
  
  Depending on your kitchen's ambient temperature, it may take 15 to 60 minutes for butter to reach room temperature from the fridge. Typically, this process takes longer during colder months than in warmer ones.
  
  Keep the butter for the frosting in the fridge until you're ready to make the frosting. This important step will keep the cream cheese frosting from turning runny.

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese brings extra softness to the cookie dough and a mildly tangy taste to the frosting.
  
  The cream cheese should also be cool, room temperature, for both mixing in the cookies and for mixing in the frosting.

• Egg: The egg binds all the ingredients together. But like the butter and cream cheese, the egg’s temperature is important in this recipe. Keep the egg in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
  
  This practice maintains the cookie dough temperature so it isn’t too warm when it goes in the oven. The result is cookies that hold their shape without spreading too much.

• Extra Sprinkles: Because we are all about that fun, vibrant vibe. Sprinkles add an extra burst of color and whimsy. 

Substitutions

Want to mix things up or adapt the recipe to what you've got in your pantry? No problem. Here are a few handy substitutions:

• White cake mix: If you can't find Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix, any white cake mix combined with your favorite colorful sprinkles works just as well.

• All butter, no cream cheese: If cream cheese isn't your thing or if you've run out, don't worry. Just substitute with equal amounts of butter for equally delicious results.

Variations

There are all kinds of ways to add creativity to easy Funfetti cookies. You'll love these twists if you are a huge fan of cake mix cookies.

• White Chocolate Funfetti. Add half a cup of white chocolate chips to the already delicious cookies. That is an easy recipe customization for any special occasion.

• Chocolate Funfetti. Swap out the Funfetti mix for a chocolate cake mix. Add crushed Oreos in place of the sprinkles. These goodies will disappear from the cookie tray in seconds.

• Fruity Funfetti. Add a half cup of dried cranberries or cherries to the batter. The sweet-tart kick is a sure winner.

• Funfetti Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies. Elevate your Funfetti gooey butter cookies by sandwiching a scoop of ice cream between two cookies. Freeze for 30 minutes and enjoy the sweet treat.

RELATED: You may also be interested in cherry chip cake mix cookies. Dip them in melted white chocolate and throw on some sprinkles. Or drizzle them with chocolate instead.

Directions

This recipe is easy to whip up. Bake the cookies. Make the frosting. Decorate.

Make the Cookies

• PREHEAT the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring the butter and cream cheese to cool room temperature.

• CREAM ½ cup of the butter and ½ cup of the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Beat until smooth.

• ADD the cold egg to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.

• POUR in the dry cake mix and mix until it is combined. Use a spatula to scrape the bowl's sides to ensure all the dry ingredients are incorporated into the cookie dough.

• STIR in 2 tablespoons of sprinkles or rainbow jimmies.

• SCOOP the cookie dough balls with a medium cookie scoop (2 tablespoons size is ideal). Roll the dough ball in your hands to smooth it.

• SLIGHTLY FLATTEN the balls between the palms of your hands.

• PLACE the cookie dough discs about two inches apart on the lined baking sheet.

• BAKE cookies in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are done.
  
  The middles may not look completely done. But they will finish baking with the residual heat from the pan when they are out of the oven.
  
  The bottom of the cookies should be a light golden brown.

• REMOVE the cookie sheet from the oven and turn the oven off.

• SHAPE the cookies uniformly. Use a round cookie ring that is larger than the size of the cookie. The cookie ring is essentially a round cookie cutter.
  
  Position the cookie ring around the warm cookie, ensuring that the ring completely encircles the cookie. With the cookie inside the ring, start rotating the ring around the cookie. Continue rotating for about 15 seconds.
  
  As you rotate, you'll notice the sides of the cookie pulling in, and the cookie gradually becoming rounder and more uniform in shape.
  
  The warmth of the cookie will help it conform to the ring. By the end of the rotation, the cookie should have taken on a perfectly round shape.
  
  Repeat this technique with all the cookies in the same manner.

• PLACE the cookie sheet on a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes.

• TRANSFER the cookies from the baking sheet to the cooling rack. Cool them completely.

Make the Frosting

• CUT ½ cup of cold butter (straight from the fridge) into pieces and add it to a large mixing bowl. Beat the butter with electric beaters until it starts to soften.

• COMBINE half of the powdered sugar with the butter. Beat with an electric hand mixer until the powder sugar is crumbly and absorbed into the butter.
  
  Then add the rest of the sugar. Mix again until it is crumbly and there isn't any powdered sugar on the bottom of the bowl.
  
  It will look crumbly, not smooth like you expect frosting. Don't worry. You are on the right track.

• ADD ¼ cup of cool, room-temperature cream cheese and mix until combined.

• USE it right away. Or refrigerate it until you're ready to frost the cookies.
  
  If it was in the fridge, remove it about 15 minutes before using it. Beat with an electric mixer to get it ready to spread. If it seems thick or hard to spread, mix up to 1 tablespoon of cream in.
  
  You may not need cream if the frosting consistency is already spreadable.

Decorate the Cookies

• SPREAD about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cooled cookie.

• DROP a few more fun, colorful sprinkles on each cookie.

• SERVE right away.

RELATED: Try lemon cake mix cookies drizzled in lemon white chocolate glaze. You'll love them!

Tasty Tips

• Roll the dough after scooping. Instead of just plopping the cookie dough on the baking sheet, roll each ball between your palms. That will make the surface of the cookie smoother in appearance.
  
  This is also an excellent time to flatten the dough slightly. Now it’s ready for the cookie sheet.

• Try the cookie reshaping trick. Use the cookie cutter trick for rounder, uniform cookies. This may seem tedious, but it's a fantastic way to get that professional, bakery-style look.

• Master the mixing. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing can result in tougher cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are incorporated.

• Keep the size consistent. Use a cookie scoop to ensure your cookie portion sizes are uniform. This guarantees even baking for every cookie.

• Don’t rush the cooling. Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting. The frosting can melt and become runny if you try to frost warm cookies.

• Sprinkle sensibly. Add sprinkles to the frosting while it's still wet, so they adhere better.

How to Store Funfetti Cookies

Before you store the cookies, make sure they are completely cool first. This helps prevent sogginess and maintain the texture.

Then pop them in an airtight container.

• Unfrosted cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days before they lose freshness.

• Cooled and frosted cookies should always be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For the best taste, remove the cookies from the fridge for about 20 minutes before eating them.

Can You Freeze Funfetti Cream Cheese Cookies?

Fabulous news! These are the easiest cookies to freeze.

After the cookies cool and are frosted, set them on a lined baking sheet and freeze for an hour.

Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Place a sheet of parchment paper between each layer to prevent them from sticking.

To thaw the cookies, remove the desired number from the freezer and let them rest at room temperature. They'll be ready to eat in about an hour.

Top them off with a fresh shower of sprinkles to bring back that vibrant charm.

How Long Do Funfetti Cookies Last?

Though I think these cheerful treats will disappear in no time, you may have leftovers. Funfetti cookies, when properly stored, should maintain their taste and texture for about 3 to 4 days.

If you freeze them, they will keep for up to 3 months. Just remember, a quick room-temperature thaw, and they're ready for your snack-time pleasure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Serve with Funfetti Cookies

Funfetti cookies are fantastic alone. But sometimes, a side can make it a whole lot better. Especially if you are serving them at a get-together.

• Cold milk: There's something undeniably classic about cookies and milk. Rich, creamy milk complements the sweet, slightly tangy cookies perfectly.

• Hot chocolate: Funfetti cookies in the winter? Serve a cup of chocolate chip hot chocolate. It only takes a couple minutes to make in the microwave.

• Ice Cream: Cookies and vanilla ice cream. Yep!

• Ambrosia Fruit Salad: If you want to lighten things up, serve the cookies with ambrosia fruit salad. This is a popular pairing at a summer cookout (barbecue) or holiday family get-together.

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