Spooktacularly Easy Halloween Monster Eye Cookies: Made with Cake Mix!
Get ready to conjure up some truly enchanting treats this Halloween with our incredibly simple Halloween Cake Mix Monster Eye Cookies! If you’re searching for a quick, fuss-free, and delightfully spooky cookie recipe, look no further. These cookies are wonderfully soft, delightfully fluffy, and a breeze to whip up using just a basic box of white cake mix, a few pantry staples like eggs and oil, vibrant food coloring, playful sprinkles, and, of course, those essential candy eyeballs that bring your monsters to life!
You’re absolutely going to adore these adorable (and slightly spooky) Halloween monster eye cookies! They embody everything we love about homemade treats: a fantastic texture, incredible flavor, and a festive look that perfectly captures the spirit of Halloween. Best of all, they’re so straightforward to make that even beginner bakers can achieve perfect results every time. These playful cookies are not just a dessert; they’re an experience, especially when little hands get to help with the mixing and decorating.
Why These Cake Mix Cookies are Your Go-To Halloween Treat
Much like our popular Candy Corn Cake Mix Cookies and decadent Red Velvet Brimstone Cookies, these monster-themed delights are designed for speed and simplicity. They are the ultimate solution for busy parents, last-minute party planners, or anyone who wants to enjoy the fun of baking without the stress. They are fantastic for:
- Kid-Friendly Baking: The simple steps make them ideal for involving children in the kitchen. They’ll love mixing the vibrant colors and, especially, placing the goofy candy eyeballs!
- Halloween Parties & Celebrations: Their festive appearance makes them a hit at any Halloween gathering, from school parties to adult costume events. They add a pop of color and a touch of whimsy to any dessert table.
- Quick & Easy: Thanks to the cake mix shortcut, you’ll spend less time measuring and more time enjoying the baking process and the delicious outcome.
- Soft & Chewy Texture: Cake mix ensures a consistently soft and fluffy cookie that practically melts in your mouth, a texture everyone loves.
I’ll admit it’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of smart shortcuts, especially when it comes to baking. And using a box of cake mix to create delicious cookies is hands-down one of my absolute favorite time-saving baking tricks. It’s a magic bullet for achieving perfect cookies with minimal effort. For more fantastic cake mix cookie recipes, be sure to try my equally delightful red velvet cake mix cookies, zesty lemon cake mix cookies, and celebratory funfetti cake mix cookies.
If you’re in the mood for even more monstrously good Halloween treats, don’t miss our Bloodshot Monster Eyeballs Donuts, adorable Monster Halloween Apple Treats, fun Cookie Monster Cookies, and refreshing Monster Sherbet. Each one offers a unique and festive way to celebrate the season!
Simple Ingredients for Spooky Goodness
Here is everything you will need to create these charmingly monstrous cookies:
- White Cake Mix (1 standard box, 15.25 oz – 16.25 oz): While other cake mix varieties can technically be used for cake mix Halloween cookies, to achieve the most vivid and brightest colors for your spooky creations, you’ll want to start with a white or vanilla base. This ensures your food coloring truly pops!
- Eggs (2 large): Eggs act as a crucial binding agent, helping to hold the cookie dough together and contributing to the soft, chewy texture. Ensure they are at room temperature for better incorporation into the mix.
- Oil (½ cup): Vegetable oil or canola oil work perfectly here, adding moisture and tenderness to the cookies. As an alternative, you can substitute oil 1:1 with melted (and slightly cooled) butter for a richer flavor, though the texture might be slightly different.
- Food Coloring (gel preferred): For the boldest and brightest colors that truly stand out, we highly recommend using gel food coloring. Liquid food coloring can sometimes dilute the dough or not provide as intense a hue. Orange is classic for Halloween, but feel free to experiment with green, purple, or even black!
- Sprinkles and Candy Eyeballs: These are the key to giving your monster cookies their unique charm! Grocery stores and craft stores typically stock a wonderful variety of Halloween baking supplies this time of year. However, if you’re struggling to find the perfect candy eyes or festive Halloween sprinkles, Amazon is always a reliable option. In fact, some sprinkle mixes even come with eyeballs already included, which would be absolutely perfect!
How to Make Monster Cake Mix Cookies for Halloween
These monster Halloween cookies truly couldn’t be any easier to prepare. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can go from cake mix to a tray full of adorable (and slightly eerie) treats. Here’s a simple breakdown of the steps:
- PREP: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This crucial step prevents the cookies from spreading too much and sticking, ensuring easy cleanup and perfectly round cookies.
- MIX DOUGH: In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of white cake mix, the large eggs, and the vegetable oil. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until a well-combined, thick dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tougher cookies.
- COLOR & SPRINKLES: Now for the fun part! Add a few drops of your chosen gel food coloring (like orange for classic Halloween). Stir it in, then continue adding more drops as needed until you achieve your desired shade. Once the color is perfect, fold in about half of your Halloween sprinkles. This ensures sprinkles are baked into the cookies.
- SCOOP: Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5-2 tablespoons) or a heaping Tablespoon to scoop uniform balls of dough onto your lined baking sheets. Make sure to leave at least 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking. For extra visual appeal, you can gently press a few additional sprinkles onto the top of each dough ball at this stage.
- BAKE: Bake the cookies for approximately 9-12 minutes. You’re looking for edges that are lightly golden and centers that are just set. Do not overbake if you want them to remain soft and chewy!
- DECORATE: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, while they are still warm and soft, gently press your candy eyeballs into the top of each cookie. The warmth of the cookie will help the candy eyes adhere. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Storage Tips for Freshness
These delightful Halloween cake mix cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but they also store wonderfully. You can keep them covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Just layer them with parchment paper in an airtight container or freezer bag, and thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy a spooky treat!
Expert Recipe Tips for Perfect Monster Cookies
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always skip the non-stick spray on your baking sheets and opt for parchment paper or silicone liners instead. Non-stick spray can sometimes cause cookies to spread too much in the oven, leading to flat, crispy cookies instead of the desired soft, fluffy texture.
- Chill Sticky Dough: If your cookie dough feels overly sticky and difficult to handle, don’t fret! Simply pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes, or even in the freezer for a quick 10-15 minutes. This will firm it up and make it much easier to scoop and roll.
- Uniform Scoops for Even Baking: To ensure that all your cookies bake evenly and come out perfectly done at the same time, strive for consistent sizing. A cookie scoop is an invaluable tool for this, creating perfectly portioned dough balls every time.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining your ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher cookies. We want soft, tender monster bites!
- Watch the Oven Closely: Baking times can vary depending on your oven. Keep an eye on your cookies, especially towards the end of the baking cycle. They should be just lightly golden at the edges, and the centers should appear set but still look soft. Err on the side of underbaking for a chewier cookie.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: While not strictly necessary for cake mix cookies, bringing your eggs to room temperature can help them incorporate more smoothly into the dough, leading to a more uniform batter and a better final texture.
Unleash Your Creativity: Have Fun with It!
This easy Halloween cookie recipe is a fantastic starting point, but don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild and get truly creative with it! Halloween is all about fun and personalization, so feel free to experiment and make these monster cookies uniquely yours. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Creative Customization Ideas:
- COLORFUL COOKIES: Instead of just one color, divide your cookie dough into 2 or 3 separate bowls. Color each portion with a different shade of gel food coloring. Green, orange, and purple are classic choices for Halloween, creating a vibrant assortment of monster cookies. But don’t shy away from bright pink or electric blue monsters – they’re incredibly fun and unexpected! You could even swirl two colors together for a marbled monster effect.
- MULTIPLE EYES: Who decided all monsters must have just two eyes? Challenge the norm! Try giving some cookies a single, cyclops-like eyeball, while others can boast three, four, or even more eyeballs for a truly eccentric and monstrous look. Varying the number of eyes adds so much character to your spooky treats.
- BRIGHT & BOLD EYES: Elevate your monster eyes beyond the standard white. Experiment with eyeballs adorned with long, dramatic lashes for a glamorous monster, or opt for spooky red eyeballs to give your creatures a more menacing (but still fun!) vibe. Another fantastic idea is to use candies like Skittles or M&Ms as the base for colorful eyeballs. Simply use an edible black food marker to draw a small black dot in the center of each candy. Then, press these into your warm cookies after baking for a truly unique and vibrant array of monster eyes.
More Creative Halloween Dessert Ideas to Explore
If you’ve loved making these monster eye cookies, you’ll definitely want to check out these other creative and spooky Halloween dessert ideas from our collection:
- Mummy Cookies
- Ghost Meringue Cookies
- Witch Hat Cookies
- Spider Rice Krispies Treats
- Ghost Doughnuts
- Halloween Poke Cake
- Slime Halloween Cookies
- Frankenstein Suckers
Halloween Cake Mix Cookies
Author: Jaclyn
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
24
Saved!
Ingredients
- 16.25 white cake mix (1 box)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- orange gel food coloring
- ¼ cup Halloween sprinkles
- 48 candy eyes
Instructions
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1Preheat oven to 350℉ (175°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
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2Add cake mix, eggs, and oil to a large bowl. Mix well with an electric mixer or spoon until fully combined and a thick dough forms. Do not overmix.
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3Stir in a few drops of orange gel food coloring. Add more drops as needed, mixing after each addition, to reach your desired shade of vibrant orange. Gently fold in about half of the Halloween sprinkles.
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4Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1.5-2 tablespoons) or a heaping Tablespoon to scoop uniform balls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, ensuring they are at least 2 inches apart. Top with a few additional sprinkles if desired, gently pressing them down to help them stick.
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5Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly set and the centers look just done. Do not overbake. Allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 3 minutes before gently pressing candy eyeballs into them. Transfer to a wire rack to cool fully.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving:
1g
|
Calories:
185kcal
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We hope you and your family have a wonderfully spooky and delicious time baking and enjoying these fun Halloween Cake Mix Cookies. Happy Halloween!