What a better way to get something mixed, in the oven and decorated than with a cake mix cookie. I’ve not really tried them much before, preferring to always make them from scratch but it’s so, so easy.

You can bet your bottom dollar, around this time of the year, I’ll have a couple packets of cheap cake mix in the pantry as a leftover from the November birthday parties. They are only about 70 cents each. Not the best tasting cake but it does the job as far as a birthday party cake for kids go. They usually only lick off the icing and throw the cake away.

All you need to add to the mix is 2 beaten eggs and 1/3 cup of oil (I used vegetable oil).

The cookies come out light but firm and have a nice crunch. I just topped mine with a bit of chocolate icing and crushed candy canes. I also added 1 tablespoon of peppermint essence to the cookie mix before baking. The different flavour combinations are endless. I’m going to get some vanilla cake mixes to throw in the pantry, just for quick easy cookies. For 70 cents a pack plus the cost of a couple eggs, it’s a cheap way to go and everything is already measured out for you.

Choc Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies

• 1 packet of chocolate cake mix
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup oil (any kind will do)
• 1 tablespoon peppermint essence

• chocolate icing and crushed candy canes to decorate

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg C.
2. Add beaten eggs, oil and essence to cake mix and stir well.
3. Drop balls of dough on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
4. Bake for approx 15 minutes or until slightly browned.
5. Once cooled, decorate with a small amount of chocolate icing and crushed candy canes.