These 3-ingredient pumpkin cookies with cake mix are soft, fluffy and ready in only 25 minutes. Made with pumpkin puree, spice cake mix and chocolate chips, they’re an easy fall dessert with no eggs, butter or oil.
For more easy fall cookies, try my spice cake mix cookies, soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting or pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

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Key Takeaways: Easy 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies
- Quick and easy. These pumpkin cake mix cookies are ready in only 20 minutes with minimal prep.
- No eggs, butter or oil. Pumpkin puree provides all the moisture needed to make the cookies soft and fluffy.
- Easy to customize. Use spice cake mix and add chocolate chips, nuts or your favorite frosting.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love to doctor up boxed cake mix recipes, from easy cake mix cookies to cake mix cookie bars. These 3-ingredient pumpkin cookies with cake mix are another favorite, with a soft, fluffy texture and plenty of warm pumpkin spice flavor.
Plus, they’re ready in less than 25 minutes and can be made with two ingredients by omitting the chocolate chips. For more pumpkin and chocolate treats, try my pumpkin blondies or pumpkin chocolate chip bread.
Ingredient Notes

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Flavor of cake mix: You can use a box spice cake mix or yellow cake mix. However, if you use yellow, add in 1 Tablespoon of pumpkin spice for pumpkin spice flavor.
- Pumpkin: You’ll only use 1 can of pumpkin puree (no eggs or oil). Trust the process in this easy recipe! Use pure pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling. Make homemade pumpkin puree if you have the time.
- Chocolate chips: I love using semi-sweet chocolate chips, or a mix of chocolate chips and chunks on top for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
How to Make Pumpkin Cookies with Cake Mix

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, first stir together dry cake mix and canned pumpkin until smooth. Next, gently fold in chocolate chips to the cake mix cookie recipe.

Step 2: Then using a large cookie scoop or spoon, scoop the dough onto a prepared parchment paper lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart so that they have room to spread.

Step 3: Finally, place cookie sheet in the oven and bake pumpkin spice cookies at 350°F for about 13 to 15 minutes, or until they are set.

Step 4: Remove the cookies from the oven and let cool on pan for a couple minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Be careful not to overmix the batter. It will be a thicker and stickier batter than most doughs, but they will still bake up nice and fluffy.
- Use a large cookie dough scoop (or 2 Tablespoons) to ensure they are all the same size and cook evenly.
- Don’t overbake. If they start to brown they are overbaking, remove from the oven or they won’t be as soft.
- Mix in chopped walnuts or pecans, white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips or add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar to the tops of cookies before they bake.
- For warm flavor, add a dash of nutmeg, ginger or vanilla into the batter.
- Top cookies with chocolate chunks and flaky sea salt or omit chocolate and frost them with cream cheese frosting, maple cream cheese frosting or maple glaze.

Pumpkin Cookies with Cake Mix FAQs
No. Use only the dry cake mix, pumpkin puree and chocolate chips. Do not add the eggs, oil or water listed on the box.
Yes. Yellow cake mix gives the cookies a milder flavor and brighter orange color. Add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice to the dry mix before stirring in the pumpkin puree.
Insert a toothpick into the center of a cookie. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The outside may look set before the soft, cakey center has finished baking.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze cooled cookies for up to 3 months, separating the layers with parchment paper.

More pumpkin recipes include pumpkin muffins with a cake mix, pumpkin cookies with caramel icing and soft pumpkin cookies!
More Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Cookies with Cake Mix
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box spice cake mix , or yellow cake mix (see notes)
- 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat.
- Combine cake mix cookie batter. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and pumpkin. If using a yellow cake mix add 1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice before adding pumpkin. Stir with a spoon until dough is smooth. Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Scoop and bake. Using a large cookie scoop (or 2 Tablespoons), scoop dough onto the pan. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool. Remove from oven and let cool on the pan for 4 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Jenifer
I will escape in a good book!
Heather B
I cuddle up with my dog, a good book and some chamomile tea.
Katy
Wow! These look great- and so easy! Thanks!
I make my days “softer” by doing a nightly guided meditation. It’s so relaxing!
Jamielyn
What a great idea Katy, guided meditation really is so relaxing! :)
Elis B.
I have a nice dinner.
Stacie S-H
I make hard things soft by taking some me time. A little shopping, blogging, painting my nails or just relaxing with a movie
Jamielyn
It definitely is important to take care of yourself and do things you love! I love all those things you listed, thanks for commenting!
tammigirl
I take to the bath. With books and magazines and a giant bottle of water. For others: I bake and launder their bedding so they can cozy up in a great smelling bed.
Beckie
Adding one of my favorite scents to my Scentsy warmer & cooking something delicious.
Kelsey W.
Chocolate always makes my day better!
Jamielyn
I completely agree! :)
Katie
By cooking dinner or reading a book.
Shawn B!
Lots of coffee, with coconut creme creamer!
Mona Abeyta
MMMM I am the only one in my household that loves that creamer! Enjoy!
Beth F
I hard days softer by heading to my craft room when the kids are in bed and creating wonderful things :)
Niki
With lots of wine and chocolate!
Shelly Rae Wood
oops…..I make life’s harder moment’s softer by hugging my kitty and having a chocolate treat for me and a salmon treat for her
ashley
I take mommy timeouts in my bedroom with some really bad tv (kardashians usually)
Jamielyn
Haha I love it Ashley, mommy timeouts are much needed sometimes!
Becky Prasek
Love fall. My very favorite season. And then all of the wonderful and meaningful holidays and celebrations to follow. And wonderful fall flavors like these!
Rachael K
I think I commented, but I don’t see it… I usually just need a nap on hard days.
Karyn
These cookies look amazing! Love pumpkin!!! To make hard days easier I like to take a long bubble bath and sometimes have a special treat!
Keri
By cooking up a dish