Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links.
These peanut butter cake mix cookies are the recipe I reach for when I need something homemade in a hurry, like cookie exchanges, last-minute bake sale requests, or just an afternoon craving that won’t wait for a from-scratch recipe.
Perfect for beginners or seasoned bakers, this easy peanut butter cookie recipe combines a box of yellow cake mix with creamy peanut butter and just a few pantry staples to create soft, chewy cookies with zero measuring headaches.
They’re also great to make ahead. The dough holds up well in the fridge for a day or two, and the baked cookies travel beautifully — which makes them one of my go-to picks for picnics, potlucks, and packed lunch boxes. No one has to know they started with a box mix.
Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or a cozy night in with a tall glass of milk, these cookies will quickly become a family favorite. Like my No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, these easy cake mix cookies are delicious and so easy!
Cake Mix Cookie Recipe Highlights
- Super Simple – Just a box of yellow cake mix, brown sugar, and pantry staples.
- Quick and Easy: Only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
- Rich Peanut Butter Flavor: This is one of my favorite recipes! These cookies taste like they were made from scratch with the perfect balance of sweetness and nuttiness.
- Versatile: Add peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or even peanut butter cups for extra flair.
Be sure to also try my recipe for the best peanut butter cookies from scratch.
Ingredients for easy peanut butter cookies
- Yellow cake mix
- Softened butter
- Packed brown sugar
- Peanut butter
- Vegetable oil
- Egg
Equipment and kitchen tools
- Electric hand mixer
- cookie sheets
How to make perfect peanut butter cookies
- In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, peanut butter, oil and egg.
- Add cake mix and blend.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Flatten cookies with a fork.
- Bake in preheated oven 350°F for 12-14 minutes and let cool.
Save The Recipe!
Add your email below and we’ll send it straight to your inbox+ you’ll receive all our newest recipes
Raquel’s Time Saving Tips ⏱️
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Use softened butter, a room temperature egg, and creamy peanut butter for smooth mixing.
- Dough Balls: Use a medium cookie scoop or your hands to form inch balls of dough.
- Parchment Paper: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking.
- Flattening the Cookies: Use the tines of a fork to create a crisscross pattern on top of the cookies for that classic peanut butter cookie look.
Substitutions and Variations
- Peanut Butter: Substitute chunky peanut butter for a different texture.
- Mix-Ins: Add peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or chopped peanut butter cups for an extra indulgent treat.
- Cake Mix Options: Swap the yellow cake mix for chocolate cake mix to create chocolate peanut butter cake mix cookies.
- Glaze: Drizzle a simple peanut butter glaze over cooled cookies for added sweetness.
- Cake Variations: Use a spice cake mix for a warm, spiced flavor or a white cake mix for a lighter taste.
FAQs About This Recipe
Yes, a hand mixer works perfectly to combine wet ingredients with the dry cake mix.
If you make this a day ahead, be sure to store baked cookies in an airtight container with a slice of apple or bread in it to retain cookie softness.
Creamy peanut butter gives the cookies a smooth texture, but you can use crunchy peanut butter for a different texture. I do not suggest using natural peanut butter because it will make the cookies too oily.
Absolutely. Press the dough into a parchment-lined pan and adjust the baking time until the top is golden brown.
Don’t overbake! Remove the cookies when the edges are golden brown, and let them cool on a wire rack.
Yes — baked cookies freeze well for up to 3 months. Cool them completely, freeze in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. You can also freeze the unbaked dough balls and bake straight from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to the bake time.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
Don’t forget to bookmark this recipe.
These cake mix cookies are a great take on a classic cookie recipe. Be sure to try my Chocolate Chip cake mix cookies too!
Peanut Butter Recipes
For more delicious recipes with peanut butter, try these:
More Cake Mix Cookies
Love a good cake mix shortcut? Try my Cake Mix Lemon Cookies for something bright and citrusy, or my Christmas Cookies with Cake Mix when the holidays roll around.
Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 egg
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, peanut butter, oil and egg.
- Add cake mix and blend.
- Roll dough into 1 inch balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Flatten cookies with a fork, using a criss cross pattern.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes and let cool for 3 -4 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
If you are not yet subscribing to my CELEBRATE THE SEASONS newsletter, you can subscribe here. I share a few things that I don’t share here and I email you only once a week. I know how valuable your time is and respect that tremendously!
I’ve never used cake mix for peanut butter cookies, but it seems like an absolutely perfect idea. I’m going to try these! We’re big fans in our house.
You have oil in the ingredients list, but not in the recipe. Is it used or not?
Yes, thank you Laurie for noticing! I just added it in the recipe instructions.
@Raquel, what about the temp you bake them on?
Bake the cookies at 350° F. Thanks for the heads up that it was missing from the card. – I updated the recipe carde.
Those cookies look so yummy! I love making cookies from cake mixes 🙂
Me too! Such a great timesaver!
These cookies look yummy! What flavor cake mix do you use?
I recommend using the Yellow cake flavor.
@Raquel, do we used salted or unsalted butter or does it matter? Thanks!
Hi Tracy,
I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted if you are watching your salt intake.
My 12 yr old daughter made these for the family! So easy for her to follow and they taste great!
These cookies are just perfect! Easy, delicious and so fun!
They are so easy!
I love this recipe! I used a sugar free yellow cake mix for my husband who can’t have sugar. I also added an extra egg and a 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips and baked it in a 9×13 baking dish for 20 minutes. The cookie bars came out perfect!!!! Thanks again!!!!
@Linda, good idea to bake as a bar. Thanks @Raquel for the recipe. Think I’ll add peanut butter chips to mine.
This is a great recipe. I added mini chocolate chips and they were great. Also added regular chocolate chips and they were fantastic. Thanks for the recipe.
My Mom always put a slice of bread in with the cookies and it keeps them soft.
This is an easy wonderful recipe. I add a bag of dark chocolate chips to this and it makes is even better, if that is possible.
Nice idea Dee!
Started
Making cake mix cookies a couple of years ago. Takes so much less time and every flavor is sooooo good! Love your peanut butter cookies! Think I’ll go make some right now😊
I’m making these cookies now and I’m wondering if the cookie mix should be fairly crumbly
Yes, they are a little crumbly when ready to bake.