Sprinkle Cake Mix Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure policy.
These Dot Cake Cookies are inspired by the viral cake recipe that’s been all over social media. With a soft cake mix cookie base, creamy vanilla frosting, and plenty of rainbow nonpareils, they bring the same colorful look and fun flavor to an easy-to-share cookie.
Viral Dot Cake Cookies with Cake Mix
Dot cakes have been everywhere recently, and I knew I wanted to take the same concept and turn it into an easier-to-eat cookie. Naturally, a cake mix cookie had to be the base. These cookies are essentially my Birthday Cake Cookies, just with rainbow nonpareils instead of jimmies. They have the same soft texture and vanilla frosting, but the nonpareils give them that colorful look that made the viral dot cake so popular.
Growing up in New Zealand, we always had fairy bread at kids’ birthday parties. Fairy bread is simply white bread spread with butter and topped with 100s and 1000s, which are what many people know as nonpareil sprinkles. Every time I make these cookies, the colorful sprinkles remind me of those birthday parties. Between the frosting, the nonpareils, and the birthday cake flavor, these Dot Cake Cookies feel like a fun mix of the viral cake trend and a childhood favorite.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- Yellow cake mix – Forms the base of the cookies and provides a sweet vanilla flavor.
- Vegetable or canola oil – Adds moisture and helps create a soft texture.
- Eggs – Bind the dough together and help the cookies bake evenly.
For the Frosting
- Unsalted butter – Creates a smooth and creamy frosting base.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens the frosting and gives it structure.
- Vanilla extract – Adds classic vanilla flavor to the frosting.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
- Milk – Helps achieve a spreadable frosting consistency.
- Rainbow nonpareils sprinkles – Add color, texture, and the signature dot cake look.
How to Make Frosted Cookies with Sprinkles
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make the dough – In a large bowl, mix the yellow cake mix, oil, and eggs until a thick dough forms.
- Portion the cookies – Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to form evenly sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
- Bake – Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the frosting – Beat the softened butter until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add additional milk as needed until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Frost the cookies – Spread frosting over the cooled cookies.
- Add the sprinkles – Pour the rainbow nonpareils into a wide shallow bowl or small rimmed plate. Gently dip each frosted cookie into the sprinkles, pressing lightly if needed, until the frosting is evenly covered.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use a different cake mix – White cake mix, French vanilla cake mix, or funfetti cake mix all work well in place of yellow cake mix.
- Change the frosting flavor – Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract, lemon extract, or cake batter flavoring for a different flavor profile.
- Swap the sprinkles – Use pastel nonpareils for spring, red and green for Christmas, or school colors for parties and celebrations.
- Use store-bought frosting – For a shortcut, use vanilla frosting from a tub instead of making it from scratch.
- Try a cream cheese frosting – Replace some of the butter with cream cheese for a tangier frosting.
Tips for Success
- Cool before frosting – Allow the cookies to cool completely so the frosting stays smooth and doesn’t melt.
- Adjust the frosting as needed – Add milk a teaspoon at a time if the frosting is too thick to spread easily.
- Use enough frosting – A generous layer of frosting helps the nonpareils stick evenly to the cookies.
- Dip instead of sprinkle – Placing the nonpareils in a shallow bowl creates a more even coating and gives the cookies their signature dot cake appearance.
Want to be the first to know when the next easy cookie recipe is published? Sign up for our newsletter updates below.
More Frosted Cake Mix Cookies
These cake mix cookie recipes combine soft cookies and creamy frosting in a variety of flavors.
Did you love these sprinkle cake mix cookies? Please leave a star rating and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Dot Cake Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix I used Duncan Hines
- 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 3/4 cup rainbow nonpareils sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, oil, and eggs until a thick dough forms.
- Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat the butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix until smooth, adding additional milk as needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Spread frosting over the cooled cookies.
- Pour the nonpareils into a wide, shallow bowl or small rimmed plate. Dip each frosted cookie into the sprinkles until the frosting is evenly coated.
Notes
- Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze the unfrosted cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, then frost and decorate before serving.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.