Pantry Cookies

These pantry cookies are the product of a Costco box of devils food cake mix and things I had in the pantry during the COVID-19 global pandemic. My roommate suggested that they are now my version of the cowboy cookies that my grandma makes. But, given their origin story, I’m still partial to calling them pantry cookies. Plus, we don’t want to confuse my family by having multiple types of cowboy cookies.

My friend April first made cookies out of cake mix when we were in high school. If I recall correctly, she made her cookies out of yellow cake mix. That’s when I realized that cake mix makes a great soft-textured cookie. It also cuts out so many steps of traditional cookie making.

Now for the mix-ins. I’ve found that butterscotch chips and some paleo granola are my go-to for these cookies. If you want to do white chocolate chips, go for it! Or, if you would rather have double chocolate, use chocolate chips! My homemade paleo granola is a mixture of different nuts (pepitas, pecans, sliced almonds, walnuts), dried coconut, and dried cranberries. When I was making these cookies the other day, I realized, that I really enjoy getting bites with the little cranberry gems in them. Food for thought.

So, you start with 1 box (or bag from a big box in my case) of devils food cake mix. Then, add two eggs and 1/2 cup of neutral oil. Easy, right?

Then, just mix it all together until it’s all incorporated. So easy! Now you have cookie dough!

Then, you just fold in your desired mix-ins. Like I said earlier, I use butterscotch chips and some paleo granola (nuts and dried cranberries).

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To get the dough from the bowl to the baking sheet, you could use the two-spoon method my mom always used growing up. Or, like my roommate, you can use a mini ice cream scoop. I prefer the mini ice cream scoop method. The cookies are more consistent shapes that way. Also, make sure you line your baking sheets with parchment paper. I’m a big fan of anything that minimizes food sticking.

Looking at it now, raw chocolate cookies do not photograph well. Haha. Oh well. I promise they taste delicious though.