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.

Andrea D.
I read my Bible and bake to make my hard days better.
Jamielyn
Two wonderful things to do, thanks for commenting Andrea!
Charlie
Listening to Josh Groban music
Corinna
I head out to Target to do some shopping. That always makes my day feel softer, along with a sweet decaf coffee drink. ;)
Jamielyn
Target is the best, isn’t it? I love going through their dollar section and finding cute little things! :)
Theresa J
I escape with a cup of tea and a good book or a nice bubble bath
Jamielyn
Bubble baths definitely do the trick, there is nothing better than sitting in a warm bath with a good book! :)
Miriam Prantner
Something sweet and a book make hard days better!
cayce wegman
By getting a hug from my mom!
Jamielyn
Mom hugs are the best, aren’t they? I wish my momma lived closer so I could get them more often!
Erika W.
I had one yesterday…I just tried to relax, played some Candy Crush and found some funny videos to watch to make me laugh!
Jamielyn
Funny videos always seem to lighten the mood! Great idea!
Victoria
By getting a big squeeze from my two girls!
amanda S.
By taking time to smell the roses.
amanda S.
GREATgiveawy! Looks yummy.
Anne Marie
I make hard days soft by pulling out some yarn and my crochet hooks.
Lynda Del
By making up an easy and quick chocolate mug cake and then watch some reality tv.
Jamielyn
Mmmm, a warm mug cake sounds like the perfect treat for a hard day!
Jessica w
A good book, a candle, and my favorite warm beverage
Heather
Homemade cookies make anything better! Also spending time with my boys, they make everything better too!
Jamielyn
I agree to both, warm cookies and snuggling are two sweet things that make my day go better!
kesha
I BAKE!!!!!
Andrea
WINE!!!
Brittany
By cooking with kids ;)
Lisa
By eating some chocolate!