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German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

These German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies feature a delicious cake-like cookie full of chocolate chips, oats, and flaked coconut. They’re so easy to make and a real chocolate lover’s treat!

Stack of broken German chocolate cake mix cookies with gooey chocolate chips on white plate.

I’m not a big fan of German chocolate cake. In fact, I hate it.

Shredded coconut and chopped nuts are not my favorites, and I steer clear of them whenever I can.

However, these German chocolate cake mix cookies are the one time I actually enjoy eating flaked coconut. Probably because you can’t taste it!

This recipe works because it’s:

  • Simple to make. I usually have all of the ingredients on hand to make these cookies, as will most bakers, so this is a great recipe for a last-minute dessert.
  • Great for a crowd. This recipe makes 2 dozen cookies, so you’ll have plenty for your party or event.
  • Dangerously addicting! I recently made these cookies for a funeral. After we had cleaned up all of the food and I had packed up the cookies, one of the guests came into the kitchen and asked for a cookie from my container. They are that good!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Bowls of German chocolate cookie ingredients on table including chocolate chips, oats, and cake mix.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add 15.25 ounces of dry German chocolate cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1 cup of oats, 1 cup of chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup of sweetened flaked coconut to a medium mixing bowl.

Mix well until no dry cake mix remains.

German chocolate cookie dough in metal mixing bowl with wood spoon.

Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Five cookie dough balls on a silicone baking mat; black plate with remaining cookie dough balls in background.

Bake for 10-13 minutes. Let cookies cool on a baking rack once done.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Several German chocolate cookies on metal baking rack.

If you can’t find German chocolate cake mix at your grocery store, you can use any chocolate cake mix available.

Try some of these fun add-ins or swaps to the ingredients:

  • M&M’s instead of the chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of raisins
  • 1 cup of chopped pecans
  • Mix up the size/flavor of chocolate chips (I used mini and regular semi-sweet)

I usually shy away from making cookies, because I can never get them tall and fluffy like other people. I finally realized that the key to not having your cookies spread in the oven is using parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you use a cooking spray that causes them to spread prematurely in the oven.

Freezing your cookie dough and baking the cookies at a lower temperature for longer can help with spreading as well!

If you run out of some of the ingredients or need a healthier alternative, try one of these substitutes:

More Like This

German chocolate cookies on parchment paper with chocolate chips and flaked coconut.

Looking for more cookie recipes? You’ll love these!

FAQs

Stack of German chocolate cake cookies that have been broken in half on a white plate.
What is the difference between chocolate and German chocolate cake mix?


I wondered this very question myself! It turns out that German chocolate cake mix is usually a lighter-colored cake with a mild chocolate flavor while a devil’s food cake is richer and darker, and has a strong cocoa flavor.

If you look at the Betty Crocker website, the ingredients for German chocolate cake list cocoa as the 5th ingredient while cocoa is the 3rd ingredient in their devil’s food cake.

I hope your family loves these German chocolate cake mix cookies! If you make them, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram with @ashcroftfamilytable and use the hashtag #ashcroftfamilytable!

 

And if you’d like to get a 4-week meal plan featuring my recipes, just enter your email in the form above and you’ll get it straight to your inbox!

Stack of broken German chocolate cake mix cookies with gooey chocolate chips on white plate.

German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

The Ashcroft Family Table
These German Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies feature a delicious cake-like cookie full of chocolate chips, oats, and flaked coconut. They're so easy to make and a real chocolate lover's treat!
4.74 from 15 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 161 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 15.25 ounces German chocolate cake mix, dry
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup melted butter, 1 stick
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add German chocolate cake mix, eggs, melted butter, oats, chocolate chips, and sweetened flaked coconut to a medium mixing bowl.
  • Mix well until no dry cake mix remains.
  • Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a non-stick baking sheet (or one that has been lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.)
  • Bake for 10-13 minutes. Let cookies cool on a baking rack once done. Repeat for remaining cookies

Video

Notes

The key to not having your cookies spread in the oven is using parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you use a cooking spray that causes them to spread prematurely in the oven.
Freezing your cookie dough and baking the cookies at a lower temperature for longer can help with spreading as well! I’ve experimented with freezing these cookies and cooking them at a lower temperature and it really doesn’t make much of a difference than if you bake them right after mixing. I suspect it’s because these are cake mix cookies.
If you would like to try baking them at a lower temperature, preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 191mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword german chocolate cake mix cookies, german chocolate cookies
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4.74 from 15 votes (15 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating