Recipe: Cake Mix Cookies with 10 Variations (Cheryl's Lazy Day Cookies)

CHERYL'S LAZY DAY COOKIES

1 (15 17 oz.) package cake mix, any flavor
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup oil

Preheat oven to 325 degreesF. Lightly grease cookie sheet (can use non-stick cooking spray).

Combine all ingredients together and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool 1 minute before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies

VARIATIONS:
The cookies can be altered in about any sense as long as it is dry ingredients - if you use extracts use 1 teaspoon or less or you end up with a mess.

The following variations work well:

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE: add 1 to 2 cups chocolate chips to chocolate cake mix.

PEANUT BUTTER DREAMS: add 1 to 2 cups peanut butter chips to white or yellow cake mix.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER: add 1 to 2 cups peanut butter chips to a chocolate cake mix.

CHOCO-CHOCO CHIP: add 1 to 2 cups chocolate chips to white, yellow, or chocolate chip cake mix.

COCONUT-ALMOND: add 1 cup shredded coconut, 1 cup toasted almonds (optional) and 1 teaspoon almond extract to a white cake mix.

BANANA SPICE: add 1/2 cup mashed banana and 1/2 cup chopped pecans to a spice cake mix.

BUTTERSCOTCH FANTASY: add 1 to 2 cups butterscotch chips to a white or yellow cake mix.

PECAN DELIGHT: add 1 cup chopped pecans to pecan cake mix and garnish with a pecan half on each cookie.

M&M: add 1 to 2 cups M&M candies to white or yellow cake mix.

LOTS OF KISSES: add 1 Hershey kiss or chocolate star to the top of each cookie immediately upon removal from oven.

RECIPE NOTES:
Cheryl: "I you are looking for a drop cookie, this one is SO easy and it can be modified in several different ways. You might use the holiday colored M&M's, red or green food coloring, holiday non-pariels (spelling? The little sprinkles), put a little jelly in a well on the top (would have to bake a few minutes before doing it) or add colored sugar or coconut to the top. There are probably several other things that would work that would carry off the festive look. I usually make them for Valentines, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas using the holiday M&M's (plain or nut) or using the Reese's candy (like M&M's). They have been a big hit for parties and gifts alike!

With very little assistance a child can make them (I have a 4 and 6 year old niece that likes to make these when they are at my house- I beat up the egg a little and put them in the oven, so they are about 95% responsible for the making of the cookies)."

Source: Cheryl Lynn Jones