Cool Whip Cookies: The Easiest Cookies You’ll Ever Bake
There’s something deeply satisfying about pulling a tray of cookies from the oven—the warmth, the aroma, and the comforting promise of something sweet. Yet not everyone has time to cream butter and sugar, chill dough for hours, or measure flour to the gram. Sometimes, you just want delicious cookies made fast, with minimal effort and even fewer ingredients.
Enter: Cool Whip Cookies.
These cookies are the definition of simplicity. Just one box of cake mix, an 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip, and a single egg form the core of the recipe. With these ingredients, you can whip up soft, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth cookies in under half an hour. If you’re a fan of baking shortcuts, flavor versatility, and treats that impress with minimal fuss, this recipe is your new best friend.
Where Did Cool Whip Cookies Come From?
The origin of Cool Whip Cookies is hard to pinpoint, but like many kitchen innovations, it likely came from a combination of curiosity and necessity. As cake mix recipes gained popularity in mid-20th century America, home bakers began to experiment—using boxed cake mix in everything from pancakes to muffins to cookies.
The addition of Cool Whip, a popular frozen whipped topping introduced by Kraft in 1966, brought a new level of fluffiness and moisture. Combined with cake mix and an egg, it created a dough that baked up into pillowy, tender cookies. While it may have begun as a “shortcut recipe” found on the back of a box or passed between neighbors, Cool Whip Cookies now enjoy a place in the comfort food canon of American home baking.
What Makes Cool Whip Cookies So Special?
These cookies are:
- Quick: From mixing to baking, they’re ready in under 20 minutes.
- Customizable: With just a swap of cake mix flavor, you get a whole new cookie.
- Soft and chewy: Thanks to the Cool Whip, the texture is ultra tender.
- Beginner-friendly: No need for a mixer or fancy tools—just a bowl, spoon, and baking sheet.
They’re perfect for bake sales, last-minute dessert needs, holiday trays, or afternoon snacks with coffee. Best of all, they taste like you spent a lot more time on them than you actually did.
Basic Recipe for Cool Whip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box of any flavor cake mix (chocolate, lemon, red velvet, strawberry, etc.)
- 1 8-ounce container of Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1 egg
- Powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, Cool Whip, and egg. Mix until well combined. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough into a bowl of powdered sugar and roll to coat.
- Place coated dough on an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them a few inches apart.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are set and the tops have a crinkled appearance.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
That’s it! The result is soft, cloud-like cookies with a slightly crisp edge and a sweet powdered sugar finish.
Choosing Your Cake Mix Flavor
The beauty of this recipe lies in how easily it transforms with a different cake mix. Here are some flavor ideas to try:
- Chocolate Cake Mix: Produces cookies similar to brownies with a rich, cocoa flavor.
- Red Velvet: Delivers a classic southern taste and pairs well with white chocolate chips or cream cheese drizzle.
- Lemon: Light, refreshing, and perfect for spring or summer occasions. Add lemon zest for an extra citrus kick.
- Strawberry: Pink and sweet, these are especially fun for Valentine’s Day or baby showers.
- Spice Cake: Warm and fragrant, these cookies are ideal for fall and holiday baking.
- White or Yellow Cake Mix: A great base for add-ins like sprinkles, chocolate chips, or crushed nuts.
With just this single recipe, you can create a different cookie for every week of the year.
Tips for Making Perfect Cool Whip Cookies
While the recipe is simple, a few helpful tricks will ensure your cookies come out just right every time.
- Thaw the Cool Whip completely before mixing. Cold Cool Whip can cause the batter to seize up.
- Don’t overmix the dough. Stir just until combined. Overmixing can make the cookies dense.
- Use two spoons or a small cookie scoop to drop the dough into powdered sugar. The dough is very sticky, so handling it with your hands can get messy.
- Roll in powdered sugar generously. This gives the cookies their signature crinkled appearance after baking.
- Allow cookies to cool before removing from the sheet. If removed too soon, they may fall apart due to their soft texture.
Adding a Creative Touch
While these cookies are great as-is, you can personalize them further:
- Add-ins: Stir in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, or toffee bits.
- Flavor extracts: A few drops of vanilla, almond, lemon, or mint extract can deepen the flavor.
- Zest: Citrus zest (lemon, lime, or orange) brightens up fruit-flavored cookies.
- Fillings: Sandwich two cookies with frosting, Nutella, or marshmallow creme for a decadent treat.
- Drizzles and glazes: Melt chocolate or mix powdered sugar with a little milk and drizzle over cooled cookies.
- Holiday flair: Tint the powdered sugar with edible food coloring or sprinkle with colored sugar after baking.
Cookie Dough Texture and Storage
The dough for Cool Whip cookies is softer than traditional cookie dough and doesn’t require chilling, though you can refrigerate it for easier handling.
To store the cookies:
- Room Temperature: Keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing baked cookies: Layer with parchment paper and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Freezing dough: Scoop dough balls onto a tray, freeze until firm, then store in a bag in the freezer. Roll in powdered sugar right before baking.
Serving Suggestions
Cool Whip Cookies are crowd-pleasers no matter how you serve them:
- On dessert platters for potlucks and parties
- With coffee or tea for a soft, sweet pairing
- As edible gifts in tins or decorative bags
- As ice cream sandwiches with your favorite frozen flavors
- With hot cocoa for a cozy winter night treat
Because they’re soft and sweet, they’re a hit with kids and adults alike. You can even involve children in the baking process—rolling the dough in powdered sugar is a fun, hands-on step they’ll enjoy.
Making It a Tradition
Cool Whip Cookies are a great introduction to baking for beginners. They’re also a nostalgic recipe for many people who remember making them with parents or grandparents. Add them to your holiday cookie rotation or keep the ingredients on hand for spontaneous baking fun.
Create new memories by turning them into an annual baking tradition. Whether you switch flavors by season or host a cookie swap with different Cool Whip Cookie varieties, the simplicity of the recipe allows for endless creativity and personalization.
Comparing Cool Whip Cookies to Other Cake Mix Cookies
Cool Whip Cookies stand out from other cake mix cookie recipes because of their incredibly tender texture and signature crinkle top. While cake mix cookies made with oil or butter tend to be denser and chewier, the addition of Cool Whip creates a lighter, airier interior.
They also have a distinctive appearance—the powdered sugar coating bakes into beautiful cracks and crevices, giving them a look similar to traditional crinkle cookies but with much less effort.
A Cost-Effective Cookie Recipe
Cool Whip Cookies aren’t just easy—they’re also budget-friendly. With just three main ingredients, all of which are commonly found at grocery stores and often on sale, you can whip up a full batch of cookies for just a few dollars. This makes them ideal for baking in bulk, whether for school events, parties, or holiday tins.
Dietary Adjustments and Substitutions
Although the traditional recipe is not allergy-friendly, you can make modifications depending on your dietary needs:
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free cake mix. Cool Whip is gluten-free by default.
- Egg-free: Try using a commercial egg replacer or a flaxseed egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water).
- Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free whipped topping in place of Cool Whip, and ensure your cake mix is dairy-free.
- Sugar-conscious: Use a sugar-free cake mix and sugar-free whipped topping.
As always, check ingredient labels if you’re baking for someone with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
From Classic to Creative: Endless Possibilities
Once you’ve made your first batch, you’ll start to see the full creative potential of this easy cookie base. Here are some themed flavor ideas for specific seasons:
- Fall: Spice cake mix with chopped pecans and a cinnamon glaze.
- Winter: Chocolate mix with peppermint extract and crushed candy canes on top.
- Spring: Lemon mix with pastel sprinkles.
- Summer: Strawberry mix with white chocolate chips or a fresh strawberry glaze.
Conclusion
Cool Whip Cookies are proof that simple ingredients can create extraordinary results. Whether you’re a seasoned baker looking for a no-fail recipe or someone who’s never turned on an oven before, these cookies are practically foolproof.
With one bowl, one baking sheet, and a handful of pantry staples, you can bake up something sweet, shareable, and seriously delicious. From classic chocolate to zesty lemon, red velvet to strawberry cream, there’s a Cool Whip Cookie for every mood, moment, and mouth.
So next time you’re craving homemade cookies without the hassle, reach for a cake mix, an egg, and some Cool Whip. You’ll be amazed at what these three ingredients can do.