Lemon Snowflake Cookies Recipe (with Cake Mix)
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Delicious, no-fuss cookie recipes are a mom’s best friend. You can make these light, flavor-filled lemon snowflake cookies with just four simple ingredients. This recipe for lemon cake mix cookies will literally melt in your mouth (like a snowflake!) and will rapidly become the new favorite.
Even with “Snowflake” in the name, these cookies are one of our favorite recipes any time of year. Also known as Lemon Crinkle Cookies, they’re quick and easy to make. If you like lemon, you’re going to love this soft cookie bursting with sweet lemon flavor. Let us show you how!
Why You’ll Love Lemon Crinkle Cookies
I found an old newspaper clipping with this recipe in the recipe box that my mother-in-law gave me and wondered why in the heck I’d never heard of Lemon Snowflake Cookies. What’s even more surprising is that John had never had them before either.
Imagine our delight when we took our first bite. It’s not every day that I run across a simple cookie recipe that I’ve never heard of and find out it tastes better than what I anticipate. Heaped with flavor, these cookies are perfect for the holidays when Cool Whip is on sale and they make an amazing cookie exchange cookie because they are unique. They’re also perfect for when you need a delicious treat on short notice and are so easy to make.
Snowflake Cookie Ingredients
- Lemon Cake Mix. Don’t make the cake mix. We combine it with the other ingredients.
- Cool Whip. Place the frozen container in the refrigerator until thawed. You want it thawed but not warm. We don’t recommend that you whip your own cream. It will not have the stabilizers necessary for the consistency and texture needed for this recipe. The “Free or Lite” varieties are what we use.
- Egg. Using fresh grade A large eggs creates structure and stability within the batter and adds moisture to our Lemon Snowflake Cookies recipe.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ sugar). We recommend sifting the powdered sugar after measuring it.
Equipment Needed
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Easy ingredients right? I sure didn’t need any fancy equipment either. I used my favorite baking sheets and covered them with parchment paper. Cool them on a cooling wire rack if you can wait that long.
How to make Lemon Snowflake Cookies
- Use a large bowl and a wooden spoon to mix the cake mix, Cool Whip, and egg. You can also use an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to mix on low or medium speed. The cookie dough will be sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Drop the cookie dough using a tablespoon or cookie scoop into a small bowl of powdered sugar and gently roll until covered. This is what gives these cookies the cracked tops and snowflake appearance.
- Place cookies onto a prepared baking sheet and bake.
Tips for Best Results
Preheat your oven completely before baking so the cookies start baking immediately. They’ll hold their shape better instead of just spreading out.
Use a cool baking sheet for each batch of cookies. Don’t use a warm sheet from the previous batch. They’ll start to melt before baking. Also, place dough in the refrigerator until it’s baked.
Cookies are soft and can be more difficult to get off the parchment paper right out of the oven so let them cool completely on the cookie sheet before removing them from the pan.
Variations
Instead of rolling the cookies in powdered sugar, you could roll them in sprinkles like our Halloween Kiss Cookies.
Use the type of cake mix you love! You’ll be delighted with the flavor variations.
How to Store Lemon Crinkle Cookies
If you have any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. I’m shocked I actually know this to be true, but they do eventually get stale.
Can I freeze Lemon Snowflake Cookies?
Yes, I make lemon cookies ahead of the holidays so I don’t miss out on cookie exchanges during the holiday season. Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-quality bag or airtight container and thaw to serve within six months.
Can Lemon Cake Mix Cookies be frosted?
This is a soft cookie that bakes up thin and a little less sturdy than your typical sugar cookie so I don’t recommend it. How about trying our Crumble Cookie recipe instead?
If you enjoyed Lemon Cake Mix Cookies take a look at these!
Just like this soft cookie recipe, our Lemon Poke Cake with Lemon, Lemon Olive Oil Cake, and Lemon Pistachio Muffin recipe burst with fresh lemon flavor. If you’re still looking for a of couple soft cookie recipes, our Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies and Old-fashioned Butter Cookie recipe are for you.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
4-Ingredient Lemon Snowflake Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 8 oz Cool Whip (2 1/2 cups)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the powdered sugar. Blend completely and refrigerate for 1 hour. The batter will be sticky.
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper. Put powdered sugar in a bowl. Drop batter by tablespoons into the powdered sugar and gently roll them until covered.
- Bake 12-14 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheet which will allow them to set up.
- Store in an air-tight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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Originally released on October 10, 2017, this Lemon Cake Mix Cookie Recipe has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience, including tips and variations. No changes were made to the actual recipe.
I made these with a fudge cake mix and added mini chocolate chips. They were a hit!
That would be bliss for my chocolate-loving self. Thank you for stopping by with a great variation!
Looking to make these for a wedding. Can they be made ahead and how to store them?
You can make them ahead and either freeze the dough uncooked and bake when needed or you can freeze the cookies. Just put them in an air-tight container and separate the layers with waxed paper or freeze them in single layers. You can also keep baked cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Use within 2 days for optimum taste.
These snowflake cookies are going on Santa’s plate tonight! We made them last night, and they turned out PERFECT. Also, that lemon flavor is amazing.
Santa’s going to love them! Thank you!
Lemon desserts are always a favorite for me! These cookies are delicious…and easy too!
These cookies were so incredibly good and easy to make! I love recipes like this that my kids can pretty much make on their own!
Thanks Amy!
I made these YEARS ago — totally forgot about them! I was so excited to find the recipe again!
Thank you, Michaela! They’re so easy!
5 Stars!! These are terrific and so easy too – Santa is going to love them!!
So easy too! Thank you!
I look forward to your baked goodies every holiday season and these cookies did not disappoint! Just like John, Brooks never guesses where the recipes come from and is surprised when I make something from his mom or grandma. He gobbled these up quick!
Thanks, Jennifer! So glad you liked them!
These are so fun and so easy to make. Lemon is my favorite! Thanks for the recipe. My kids loved them!
Thanks, Debi!
Lemon is one of my most favorite flavors! These cookies come out so soft and chewy! Love them!
We love a good lemon cookie… and these were one of the best we’ve had! I love recipe “finds” in our own family recipe boxes… What a treasure this is! Thanks!
I agree, Michele! I love our family recipes and the memories that go with them!
My mom used to use a chocolate cake mix sometimes
That would be delicious too Kacey!
Can lemon snowflake cookies be frozen?
The sure can Margaret! I would definitely keep them in single layers or separated with parchment paper.
Thank you
Wow! I’m loving this recipe and you’re right, it couldn’t be any easier. I find the cool whip in it very interesting and can imagine how that would add to the lightness of the texture. Definitely making these for the holidays. Thanks for sharing another wonderful recipe from your family. Hugs:)
Thank you Lily! They were so easy and yummy. I really wondered how the cool whip would work and even though it does get deflated when mixed I think it keeps them very light and soft. Enjoy your day my friend!
Trick or treat!!!! I want a treat of a few of these in my mouth! 🙂
I know how special Halloween is for you and if I could I’d make you a batch!
Oh love lemony anything – those cookies look amazing, love the effect of the sprinkling of confectioners sugar. They would make a great cookie exchange for the holidays too.
Thank you Loretta! I have to admit to test tasting a couple of them and then sending them to work with John so I didn’t keep at it. I love lemon year around too.
I was trying to guess what the four ingredients were – I knew it had to be a cake mix and you used confectioners’ sugar. Not bad – two out of four! Mixes are a good thing – I know my Mom liked to use them. When you need a quick and simple lemon fix this recipe sure would do it 🙂
Ha! I grew up using them too Judi and they’re pretty darned good.
What an amazingly easy and delicious recipe!
They really are Sonal! Thanks for stopping by my friend!