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Writer's pictureDanielle

Easy Vanilla Orange Spice Cookies

There was a time in my life when I loved to bake from scratch. But that time has passed. Even now, with all the time in the world, I can’t bring myself to measure out the all the leaveners, sift dry ingredients, etc. So I rely on a trick that makes delicious soft cookies ready for consumption in much less than an hour.


Is it a mix? Yes, but not a cookie mix. I find that cookie mixes from the store are 1) expensive, 2) limited in flavor selection, and 3) do not make as many cookies as I’d like. So I use cake mix, doctor it up a little, and do NOT follow the instructions on the package. Cake mix goes on sale a lot, so I usually buy it when it’s cheap and keep it in the cupboard for cookie craving times.


The Recipe

Boxed yellow cake mix

2 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup halved or chopped roasted, salted cashews

1 tsp vanilla

Zest of one orange

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp cardamom

1/8 tsp nutmeg

Mix ingredients with a wooden spoon until combined.

Drop onto a greased cookie sheet in 1in roundish shapes. Give them a little room to spread.

Bake at 350 for 9 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.


Packed up and ready to mail!


Notes and Substitutions

  • It‘s an extremely unfussy dough. You don’t have to mix them in any particular order—I didn’t even beat the eggs before I added them to the bowl.

  • To make any cake mix into cookies, add 2 eggs and 1/2 cup of oil. You can make any cake flavor and add any mix-ins.

  • Flavors combos I have also loved: spice cake mix with pecans and chocolate chips, and orange cake mix with almonds and chocolate chips. (I almost always add chocolate chips, but these were for someone who does not like chocolate.)

  • I used Pillsbury, but I don’t think it matters. I’ve used tons of brands over the years, and they always turn out well.

  • If you make the cookies a little bigger, go up to a ten minute baking time.


I make variations of these a lot, but Austin really went nuts for this particular flavor combo. And I agree that they were especially good. Because they’re made from cake mix, they won’t be chewy but you can get them crisp if you like by extending the baking time by a minute or so.


So if you know someone who needs a treat, make them some cake cookies and put them in the mail. And you’ll probably still have some leftover for yourself!


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