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As a full-time cake maker, I’ve had so much cake batter that has been leftover that I didn’t know what to do with. After some experimentation, I found the perfect way to use the leftover cake batter by baking it into cookies. It took a few tries to get it right, but was definitely worth it!
As a general rule, you can use leftover cake batter to bake cookies by adding cake mix, eggs, oil, sugar, baking soda, salt, and any additional mix-ins you want to include. Adding these ingredients to the cake batter will help give the cookies the right taste and texture.
You might be asking yourself: how can you make cookies out of a batter that was not meant for that? In order for that to happen, you will need to learn how to turn cake batter into cookie dough first! In this post, I will be explaining the right steps you’ll need to take to make cookie dough from cake batter.
How to Turn Cake Batter into Cookies?
To turn cake batter into cookies, you will need to add eggs and oil to the batter. Vegetable oil works well, but you can use any light-colored oil such as corn oil or canola oil. Adding oil into cake batter will help the batter solidify better to get crispier cookies after baking.
To get started with making cookies from cake batter:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil
- Stir until everything is well combined
- Fold in any mix-ins you want to include, such as chocolate chips or nuts
The dough will be thick and sticky. Use a spoon or your hands to drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Make sure to space the cookies out well, as they will spread while baking.
*By the way, if you’re looking for some new cookie sheets/baking pans to replace for your kitchen, I recently came across the Perfect Nonstick Cookie Sheets / Baking Sheets Set that I got for myself and they work great! You can check out these Nonstick Cookie Sheet Set on Amazon!
Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown and set!
Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
How Do You Thicken Cake Batter for Cookies?
As a general rule, you can thicken cake batter for cookies by beating the batter at a low to medium speed. This will help to incorporate more air into the batter, which will make it thicker and less likely to spread while baking. Cookies that are spread will lose their thickness.
Make sure that you don’t overmix the cake batter while you’re trying to thicken it for cookies. While your cookies will become thicker they can also become dense and hard to eat.
You can also add some flour if you want to thicken the cake batter even more. Just be sure to mix it in well so that there are no clumps.
While I like to do my mixing by hand, I much rather prefer using a Stand Mixer instead. I recently wrote an article that talks about the 3 Best Stand Mixers that bakers can buy in each stage of their baking journey. After reviewing a few stand mixers, the Best Overall Mixer was the KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. You can check out this stand mixer on Amazon!
What is the Difference Between Cake and Cookie Batter?
The major difference between cake batter and cookie batter is in the amount of liquid present. Cake batter contains more liquid than cookie batter. Adding eggs and oil into the cake batter will help thicken it to be used to bake cookies instead.
Here are more differences:
Liquid
Unlike cookie batter which contains a lot of liquid, cake batter contains very little. This is because cakes are generally baked in pans and the batter needs to stay thick so it doesn’t run out.
Leavening Agents
Cake batters also typically contain leavening agents, such as baking soda or baking powder, which helps them rise while baking. Cookies don’t usually contain these ingredients since they rely on air bubbles that are created during creaming to help them rise.
Mix-Ins
Since cookies usually have mix-ins, such as chocolate chips or nuts, the batter needs to be a little thicker so that it’s easier to work with. Cake batters generally don’t contain any mix-ins so they can spread out easily while baking.
Flavor
The flavor of cake batter is generally sweeter than cookie batter. This is because sugar is one of the main ingredients in cake batters. Cookies usually contain less sugar and more chocolate or other flavors.
Ingredient Ratio
Often, cake batter is two parts flour and liquid, one part eggs, sugar, and fat, and a teaspoon of baking powder. Cookie batter, on the other hand, is often three parts flour, two parts fat, and one part sugar. This is because cookies are meant to be denser and chewier than cakes.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet. I recently wrote an article that talks about What Can You Use To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet, which you can check out here!
How Do You Make Cookie Dough out of Cake Mix?
To make cookie dough out of cake mix, you will need to add eggs and oil to the batter. Adding oil will help thicken the cookie dough mixture for the cookies to be able to spread better. Vegetable oil also works well, but you can use any light-colored oil such as corn or canola oil.
Mix in your desired mix-ins and then transfer the dough to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Using a cookie scoop (or tablespoon), drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Make sure to space them out well, as they will spread while baking.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 11-13 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown and set. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
*Side Note: I’m surprised at how many people don’t know what a Cookie Swap is. I recently wrote an article that explains exactly What Is A Cookie Swap and How To Host One For Your Holidays!
What Can You Do with Leftover Cake Batter?
As a general rule, you can bake leftover cake batter into cake pops or cupcakes. I also often make cake waffles and cake batter milkshakes with my leftover cake batter. You can freeze unused cake batter and trimmings for months and thaw them out in the fridge when you’re ready to use them again.
You can do various things with leftover cake batter, such as:
- Bake it
- Chocolate Dip It
- Make cake waffles
- Make cake batter milkshake
- Freeze it
You can bake leftover cake batter into cupcakes or cake pops.
Dip the batter into melted chocolate to make chocolate truffles, which you can then drizzle with more melted chocolate and sprinkle with festive sprinkles. Alternatively, try coating it in coconut flakes that have been mixed together with cocoa powder for a healthier alternative.
You can also make cake waffles with leftover batter. Just pour it into your waffle maker and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cake milkshake is a delicious way to use up leftover cake batter!
Simply combine the batter with ice cream, milk, and any other desired flavors (I like to add some chocolate sauce) in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy.
You can also freeze leftover cake batter in a plastic container or ziplock bag. This way, you can have a quick and easy dessert whenever the mood strikes. Simply thaw it out overnight in the fridge and then bake as desired.
*Side Note: You might also want to know The Many Ways To Use Leftover Cake Batter and Trimmings. I recently wrote an article that talks about Creative Things To Do With Leftover Cake Batter & Trimmings, you can check out this article here!
To Summarize…
Learning how to use my leftover cake batter has allowed me to not waste my precious ingredients every time I make a cake. Making cake batter into cookies is a really simple process. In fact, it will take you just a few minutes to do. You just need a few simple tools and ingredients.
You can easily turn cake batter into cookies by adding eggs and oil and then baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 11-13 minutes. The best part is that you can make all sorts of delicious flavors from cake batter, like chocolate chip or snickerdoodle!