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Fun, bright and festive cake mix cookies are all dressed up to look like monsters. Gooey monster cookies are great all year long!!

If you need more monsters try Monster Bark, Monster Rice Krispies Treats, and Monster Cupcakes.

Gooey monster cookies in all shades stacked together.

Kid Favorite!

We love cake mix cookies, and when my son was having a Monster themed birthday party, we decided to change up our classic cookie and make them match the party!

I couldn’t help but think of the Gooey Monster Eye Cookies I made a month or so ago but decided to add some more colors and just a few more eye balls.

The result? Gooey Monster Cookies that are now a new favorite and are requested all year long, especially around Halloween!

Orange, green, blue, and pink cookie dough in separate bowls.

How to Make

BATTER. Beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in cake mix.

COLOR. Divide batter into bowls for the amount of colors you want. Add food coloring to each individual bowl and mix until all combined. Chill for 30 minutes.

BAKE. Roll into balls and dip in a bowl of powdered sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and pat down a bit. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Note: Do not bake the eyes. They will turn to goo and/or burn in the oven. 

DECORATE & ENJOY! Add candy eyeballs while cookies are still warm. ENJOY!

Tip: When a batch of cookies are baking put the dough back in the fridge to chill. Bake the cookies in small batches as you need to add the eyes after you pull the cookies out of the oven. Unless you have helpers it can be tricky to get all the eyes on each cookie before they cool off. 

Powdered sugar covered cookie dough balls

Tips + Variations

Although these cookies are supposed to be “Gooey Monster Cookies” you don’t want them so gooey that they are raw. Here are a few tips to help you troubleshoot cookies that are too gooey:

  • Did you use the correct size cake mix.
  • Do not mix up the cake mix according to the directions on the box. For these cookies you only need the cake mix powder and then you mix it with the ingredients listed in our recipe.
  • Not chilling the dough long enough. You can even put it in the freezer for a bit.
  • Different ovens may require a different bake time. Add a few extra minutes if necessary.
  • If the dough still feels too sticky for your liking add a tablespoon of two of flour to firm it up.
Gooey monster cookies on a sheet pan.

Storing Tips

MAKE AHEAD OF TIME. You can make the dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to bake them. Do not add the powdered sugar until right before baking.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Form the dough into balls and put them on a baking sheet. FREEZE them until solid then transfer them to a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw before baking.

STORE baked cookies in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Gooey monster cookies dotted with eyeballs

For a few more FUN HALLOWEEN RECIPES:

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4.97 from 122 votes

Gooey Monster Cookie Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Fun, bright and festive cake mix cookies are all dressed up to look like monsters. Gooey monster cookies are great all year long!!
Servings: 24
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 1/2 c butter softened
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 egg
  • powdered sugar
  • food coloring I used NEON food coloring to make them more vibrant
  • candy eyeballs
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Instructions 

  • Beat butter, vanilla, egg and cream cheese until fluffy.
  • Mix in cake mix. Divide batter into bowls for the amount of colors you want.
  • Add food coloring to each individual bowl and mix until all combined.
  • Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Roll into balls and dip in a bowl of powdered sugar.
  • Place on greased cookie sheet and pat down a bit.
  • Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.
  • Add candy eyeballs while cookies are still warm. ENJOY!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 24g, Calories: 69kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 67mg, Potassium: 17mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 255IU, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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270 Comments

  1. andee says:

    All of these are fantastic ideas! However, what’s the serving size for each?

  2. Moshe says:

    Hi, I would like to make this cookies in Israel for my son birthday (big monster fan) , just few clarification that it will succeed, 8 oz. Cream Cheese Bar softened – it means a cream cheese like Philadelphia? thank you for your help, Moshe

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Yes – Philadelphia Cream Cheese. 🙂

  3. Moshe says:

    Hi, I would like to make this cookies in Israel for my son birthday (big monster fan) , just few clarification that it will succeed. 1. 8 oz. Cream Cheese Bar softened – it means a cream cheese like Philadelphia? 2. Cake mix is the ready mix you buy to make a cake ? thank you for your help, Moshe

  4. Brooke says:

    Just wanted to let you know that I made these last weekend and besides being cute, these cookies are DELICIOUS!!!!!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      SO glad you like them, Brooke!! 😀 Have a great day!

  5. Caroline says:

    I love the idea of these but, like other people have mentioned, wasn’t crazy about the taste which was synthetically sweet. Is there a white cake mix that you could recommend? I used the Pillsbury Moist Supreme Classic White.

  6. Natasha says:

    Made these tonight! Awesome!
    Stupidly bought only one pack of eyeballs and ran out for the second batch.
    Also it’s difficult to tell when to take the cookies out. First batch was more cakey. Second batch was perfect albeit no eyeballs lol.Big hit with the kids -but honestly they just ate the eyeballs lol.

    Can’t wait to make again!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      So glad they worked out for you! I always stock up on the eyes when I see them so I have plenty on hand. 😉