Name: Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 cups (492g) all-purpose flour; 1 ½ cups (339g) unsalted butter, softened; 1 ¼ cup (250g) granulated sugar; ¼ cup (50g) packed light brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons cake batter extract; 1 cup holiday sprinkles; 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened; 5 cups (575g) powdered sugar; ½ teaspoon cake batter extract; ¼ teaspoon salt; 2-4 tablespoons heavy cream

There’s something truly magical about biting into a soft, flavorful cookie dotted with colorful sprinkles and bursting with a sweet cake batter taste. That’s exactly why this Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe has become my holiday favorite — it’s festive, fun, and downright addictive.

The image shows several round cookies on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has two layers: the bottom layer is a light beige cookie with small red and green bits mixed inside, and the top layer is a thick swirl of creamy white frosting. The frosting is topped with red and green sprinkles scattered over the surface. The cookies are arranged closely together, with one cookie in clear focus in the center. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember the first time I made this cookie recipe. The aroma of cake batter mingling with warm butter and sugar filled my kitchen — it instantly felt like a holiday hug. These cookies are soft, richly flavored, and decorated with cheerful sprinkles that bring joy to every bite. Plus, the frosting is creamy and perfectly complements the crumbly cookie base.

Flavor Explosion: The cake batter extract adds a nostalgic, bakery-fresh flavor that's irresistible.
Perfect Texture: Soft yet sturdy cookies that hold frosting beautifully without crumbling.
Festive and Fun: Holiday sprinkles turn these into eye-catching treats that lighten up any holiday spread.
Easy to Make: This recipe uses straightforward steps and common ingredients, so you can whip it up even on a busy day.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays an important role to achieve that beautifully tender crumb and that sweet cake batter flavor we all adore. When picking ingredients, try to use unsalted butter for more control over salt levels, and fresh baking powder to ensure your cookies rise just right.

Flat lay of a small pile of fine all-purpose flour, a few whole uncracked brown eggs, two thick slabs of soft unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated white sugar, another small white bowl holding packed light brown sugar, a tiny white bowl containing fine white baking powder, a small white bowl with fine salt, a small white bowl with colorful holiday sprinkles, a small white bowl of smooth heavy cream, and a small white bowl of clear cake batter extract liquid, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise and stay light, giving that soft, airy texture.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
All-purpose flour: Provides structure; be sure to measure by spooning into your cup for accuracy.
Unsalted butter — for dough and frosting: Adds richness and a velvety mouthfeel; softened for easy mixing.
Granulated and light brown sugar: The combo gives sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor and chewiness.
Eggs: Bind ingredients and add moisture for the perfect dough.
Cake batter extract: The star flavor — it mimics that intoxicating cake mix taste you love.
Holiday sprinkles: Adds festive color and fun texture.
Powdered sugar: For frosting’s smooth, sweet base.
Heavy cream: Adjusts frosting consistency; adds creaminess and helps it spread easily.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tweaking this Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe to suit different moods and occasions. You can make them even more decadent or lighten them up — it’s all about what makes you happy in the kitchen.

Variation: Once, I swapped out holiday sprinkles for mini chocolate chips — it gave a cozy twist perfect for winter evenings by the fireplace.
Dietary tweak: For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil instead of butter in the dough and frosting; it shifts the flavor but still tastes delicious.
Seasonal twist: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough for a subtle holiday spice kick.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe

A top view of a metal mixing bowl filled with thick cookie dough that has red and green sprinkles mixed inside, placed on a white marbled texture surface. The dough is creamy off-white, with a slightly rough texture dotted with colorful sprinkles throughout. The inside of the bowl has some dough stuck on the sides, showing the mixing process. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Prep the Dry Ingredients with Care

I always start by whisking the baking powder, salt, and flour together in a medium bowl. This step ensures your cookies get that even lift and texture. Set it aside while you move on to the fun part — the dough!

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat softened butter with both sugars on low speed until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. The fluffiness here is key to giving your cookies that tender crumb.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Cake Batter Extract

Next, mix in the eggs one at a time, then add the cake batter extract. The extract is what transforms these cookies from ordinary to magical, so don’t skimp on it!

Step 4: Slowly Incorporate the Flour Mixture

Add your dry ingredients gradually, mixing just until the dough comes together smoothly. Remember to scrape down the bowl sides so everything is well combined but don’t overmix — you want soft dough, not tough.

Step 5: Stir in Holiday Sprinkles

Gently fold in the sprinkles. This is my favorite part because your dough suddenly looks like a party waiting to happen. Be careful not to stir too hard to avoid melting the colors.

Step 6: Scoop, Flatten, and Bake

On a parchment-lined baking sheet, scoop dough balls about 2 to 3 tablespoons each. Arrange them nicely spaced, then press them down lightly with the bottom of a glass. Bake at 350°F for 13-16 minutes for smaller cookies or 18-20 minutes for larger ones. You’ll know they’re done when the edges are lightly golden and the tops lose their gloss.

Step 7: Frost and Sprinkle

Once cooled completely, whip up the frosting by beating butter until smooth, gradually adding powdered sugar, salt, and cake batter extract. Mix in heavy cream bit by bit until you get fluffy, pipeable frosting. I love using a pastry bag to create those gorgeous swirls and then topping with more sprinkles. It feels just like a bakery treat at home.

Top Tip

I’ve baked hundreds of batches of these cookies and what I’ve learned can save you some kitchen headaches. These tips will help your cookies come out perfect every time.

Measure Flour Correctly: Using too much flour can make cookies dry. I spoon the flour into my measuring cup and level it off with a knife for accuracy.
Don’t Overmix Dough: Mix just until combined. Overmixing activates gluten which can toughen your cookies.
Press Cookies Gently: Using a flat glass to gently flatten dough balls helps them bake evenly and creates the perfect shape.
Cool Cookies Fully Before Frosting: Warm cookies can melt your frosting and make a mess — patience pays off for beautiful results.

How to Serve Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe

Christmas Cake Batter Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding a sprinkle of festive colored nonpareils or tiny edible glitter on top of the frosting. It adds extra sparkle and makes your cookies stand out on any holiday dessert table.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or eggnog. For a party spread, I also set them alongside spiced nuts and fresh fruit to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

During the holidays, I like stacking these cookies in a whimsical tower tied with a festive ribbon, or arranging them in decorative tins for gifting. They instantly make any gathering feel special.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I usually separate layers with parchment paper to keep them looking fresh and prevent smudging.

Freezing

I love freezing leftover dough balls on a baking sheet, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. When I want fresh cookies, I bake them straight from frozen adding a few extra minutes. You can also freeze baked, unfrosted cookies well wrapped for up to 3 months.

Reheating

If you want warm cookies after storage, I pop them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes—just enough to soften but not melt the frosting.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute cake batter extract if I don’t have any?

You can try using vanilla extract mixed with a bit of almond extract or a touch of butter flavoring to mimic the cake batter flavor. However, for the authentic taste, cake batter extract is worth picking up, especially during the holidays.

Why are my cookies spreading too much?

Make sure your butter is softened but not melted. Also, chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help control spreading. Be careful not to over-flatten the dough balls.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes! You can swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend designed for baking. I recommend one that contains xanthan gum for structure, and keeping an eye on the bake time since gluten-free flours can vary.

How do I get the frosting to pipe nicely like at the bakery?

Use softened butter and gradually add powdered sugar to reach a crumbly texture before adding cream. Then mix until fluffy. Use a pastry bag with a round tip and steady pressure, swirling from the outside inward for that classic bakery look. Chilling the frosting a bit can help too.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Cake Batter Cookies Recipe is a heartwarming classic that brings an extra dose of holiday cheer straight from your oven. I love sharing these cookies because they’re simple enough for a weeknight bake yet special enough for your holiday parties. Give them a try — I promise you’ll find yourself reaching for these treats all season long, just like I do!