These simple 4 ingredients cookies are tasty, tender, and perfect in every way! You're never going to want to make peanut butter cookies without the cake mix again.
Peanut butter cookies are a classic treat and these classics get an upgrade with a boxed cake mix. Adding in so much flavor and tenderness in every bite while cutting down on effort. What could be better?
Feeling festive? These peanut butter cookies are incredibly similar to my Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms and can easily be turned into a holiday cookie!
Why This Recipe Works
- They're quick and easy! You're going to love how simple and easy these yellow cake mix peanut butter cookies are to come together. It can be made and prepped in just minutes!
- Perfect for parties. Not only that, but this one recipe makes a few dozen cookies, so if you're looking to make a large batch for a cookie exchange, gifts, or party- this recipe can really save you stress, effort, and time.
- Kids can help! My 9 year old daughters favorite types of cookies to make are cake mix based. They're so easy to stir together that she can whip up a batch with just a little supervision.
🥘 Ingredients
Boxed Yellow Cake Mix- Truthfully, you can use any flavor cake mix here, but for a stronger peanut butter flavor, using yellow cake mix would work best (plus it gives us a golden peanut butter cookie color).
Peanut Butter- You can use creamy or crunchy depending on what you have on hand but note that the natural peanut butter won't work nearly as well as simpler brands like Jif and Skippy.
Eggs- These are the binder in the dough, preventing your cookies from becoming too crumbly.
Vegetable Oil- Adding in oils will give your cookies the necessary fats to stay moist. Melted butter could be used instead if desired.
For the specific amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make peanut butter cookies with cake mix with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the cake mix, eggs, and oil in a large bowl.
Add in the peanut butter and mix until a thick dough comes together.
Roll the dough into 1 tablespoon-sized balls and place them on your baking sheet at least 2 inches apart.
Create a crosshatch design over the top with the back of a fork.
Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cookies start to turn light brown.
Let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
🍴 Recipe Tips
A traditional look
You'll make the dough by simply mixing the ingredients together and then roll them into balls. A cross-hatch top isn't necessary, but peanut butter cookies almost always have a crosshatch on top for appearances, making them unique and distinguishable from a distance.
You create the crosshatch by simply using the back of a fork. Press the prongs down on the ball of dough to flatten and leave marks. Lift the fork, rotate it about 90 degrees, and press down to create lines in the opposite direction. Lift, and you're done.
If you don't want to do crosshatch with a fork, you can cut a small square of wax or parchment paper and lay it over a cookie dough ball. Press down on the dough ball with the bottom of a glass mug and repeat until all cookies have been flattened. Don't flatten them too much. You still want them ¼ inch thick at a minimum!
📖 Variations
Making peanut butter cookies using cake mix is so simple and easy but can also be entirely customizable. For example, if you just swap out the yellow cake mix for another variety, you can find yourself with unique combinations. You can even sprinkle sugar on the top before baking for a caramelized top. Yum!
💭 FAQs
If properly stored in an airtight container, these cookies can last for about 3-5 days at room temperature.
Yes, these cookies freeze very well. Simply place them in an airtight container or Ziploc baggie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before eating.
Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter or creamy peanut butter, whichever you prefer. I do not recommend natural oil peanut butter or alternative nut butts, though, as they have different consistencies and may not turn out as well.
More great cookie recipes to try
- Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies Blossoms
- Milk Dud Cookies
- Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
- Triple Berry Muffin Mix Cookies
- Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cookies
- Keylime Cookies
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Cookies (with Cake Mix)
Ingredients
- 1 box 15.25oz yellow cake mix ($1.00)
- 1 cup peanut butter ($0.83)
- 2 large eggs ($0.16)
- ½ cup vegetable oil ($0.24)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix eggs and oil until well combined. Add in peanut butter until a thick dough forms.
- Use your hands to make about 30 even balls of dough; line them up on your baking sheet. The balls will be about 1 tablespoon's worth of dough in size.
- Press a fork into each dough ball to form a "cross hatch" design.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until they start to turn slightly brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Recipe Tips
If you just swap out the yellow cake mix for another variety you can find yourself with unique combinations. You can even sprinkle sugar on the top before baking for a caramelized top. Yum! A cross-hatch top isn't necessary, but peanut butter cookies almost always have a crosshatch on top for appearances, making them unique and distinguishable from a distance.- You create the crosshatch by simply using the back of a fork. Press the prongs down on the ball of dough to flatten and leave marks. Lift the fork and rotate it about 90 degrees and press down to create lines going in the opposite direction. Lift and you're done.
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