Name: Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box (15.25 ounces) vanilla cake mix (Betty Crocker Super Moist recommended); 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon orange extract; 1/2 teaspoon orange gel food coloring; 11 ounces white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended); 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Soft, zesty, and delightfully nostalgic, these Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe bring the classic creamsicle flavor in cookie form, with a luscious crackled finish that’s just irresistible. Let me walk you through how to make these sunny treats that everyone will love.

The image shows several round orange cookies with a cracked white powdered sugar layer on top, giving a cracked texture with bright orange peeking through. The cookies are placed on a white marbled surface, scattered with small white chocolate chips. There are also bright orange slices and wedges placed around the cookies, adding fresh color contrast. The overall scene looks fresh and inviting, with the cookies having a soft, slightly rough texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m really excited to share this Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe because it’s one of those easy, joyful bakes that instantly transport you back to summer afternoons. The combination of creamy orange with melty white chocolate chips makes it feel both playful and sophisticated.

Simple Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples — cake mix, cream cheese, butter, and white chocolate chips — no complicated prep required.
Unique Flavor Twist: The orange extract and gel coloring give that authentic creamsicle vibe without relying on artificial candy flavorings.
Beautiful Presentation: Coating the dough balls in powdered sugar creates a gorgeous crackled look that’s perfect for impressing guests.
Soft, Chewy Texture: Thanks to the cream cheese and cake mix combo, these cookies stay tender and moist longer than your average cookie.

A cracked cookie sits in the front center of the image on a white marbled surface. The cookie is light orange with white powdered sugar dusted on top, creating a cracked pattern across the surface. Behind the cookie, there is a white bowl filled with small, pale yellow chips that look smooth and rounded. In the blurred background, another similar bowl with chips and an orange sliced in half are partially visible. A few of the pale yellow chips are scattered around the cookie on the marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe plays an important role in texture and flavor. Choosing the right brands and getting a few key details right can really elevate the final result.

Flat lay of a small mound of fine vanilla cake mix powder, a smooth block of cream cheese, a thick slice of unsalted butter, a single large clean brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl with bright orange gel food coloring, a small white ceramic bowl with clear orange extract liquid, a small pile of glossy white chocolate chips, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with powdered sugar, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Vanilla Cake Mix: Using a boxed vanilla cake mix is the shortcut that provides a soft crumb, making these cookies tender without needing to mix in flour separately.
Cream Cheese: Brings moisture and a slight tang that balances the sweetness, plus it keeps these cookies soft and luscious.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps the texture become chewy while letting you control the salt level.
Large Egg: Acts as the binder so the cookies hold together perfectly without being cakey.
Orange Extract: This is the star flavor – be sure to use quality extract for that authentic creamsicle taste.
Orange Gel Food Coloring: Gel works best for vibrant color without thinning your dough; regular liquid food coloring can mess with texture.
White Chocolate Chips: The creamy sweetness pairs beautifully with orange and melts just right within the cookie.
Powdered Sugar: Used for rolling the cookie dough before baking, it creates the signature crackled cookies that look as good as they taste.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about this Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I like to add a little twist to suit my mood — you can too!

Variation: Sometimes I substitute half the white chocolate chips for mini orange-flavored candies to make the orange flavor pop even more, and it’s a hit every time.
Dairy-Free Adjustment: For friends who can’t do dairy, swapping in vegan butter and dairy-free cream cheese works well, though the texture is slightly different.
Color Intensity: Don’t be shy with that orange gel food coloring — I bump mine up just a little so the cookies look vibrant and fun, great for parties or summer gatherings.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Cream Cheese and Butter

Start by beating your room temperature cream cheese and unsalted butter on medium-low speed for about a minute until smooth. I usually stop and scrape the bowl a couple of times to make sure everything's lump-free. This smooth base is key to the cookie's rich texture.

Step 2: Add Egg, Orange Extract & Gel Coloring

Next, crack in the egg, add the orange extract, and the orange gel food coloring. Don’t rush this—mix for 1-2 minutes so the colors fully blend and your dough has that gorgeous orange glow throughout.

Step 3: Incorporate Cake Mix & White Chocolate Chips

With the mixer on low, slowly add in your vanilla cake mix. The dough will thicken up nicely here, so be patient. When all combined, gently fold in your white chocolate chips by hand—this keeps them from breaking and spreads them evenly.

Step 4: Chill Dough and Coat with Powdered Sugar

I scoop the dough into 1½ tablespoon portions and roll each into a ball before placing them in the fridge for 30 minutes. Chilling helps the cookies bake up perfectly. When ready, roll each dough ball in powdered sugar — this is the secret to that stunning crackled look.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until the cookies have a crackled surface and are set in the middle. Let them cool for about 5 minutes on the pan; this little rest ensures they won’t break as you transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Top Tip

Having tested this recipe several times, I've learned a few tricks that make these Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe shine every time.

Room Temperature is Key: Make sure your cream cheese and butter are fully softened so the dough mixes evenly without lumps.
Don’t Skip Chilling: It might seem like an extra step, but chilling the dough makes the cookies bake prettier with better texture and less spreading.
Gel Food Coloring Over Liquid: The gel ensures a vibrant color without affecting your cookie dough's consistency.
Watch Your Oven: Cookies can go from perfect to overdone quickly — the cracks and set centers are your clues to pull them out.

How to Serve Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe

Garnishes

I love serving these cookies as they are — that powdered sugar crackle is a complete crowd-pleaser! Sometimes, I’ll zest a little orange peel over the plate for a fresh, zesty pop that complements the creamsicle flavor beautifully.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a light citrusy tea or a simple glass of cold milk. For a party, I recommend a platter of fresh berries alongside to brighten the palate.

Creative Ways to Present

For summer gatherings, I arrange these on a tiered stand with little orange flags made from toothpicks and colored paper. Another favorite: stack them with sheets of wax paper between, tied with a raffia ribbon for gift-giving — everyone loves receiving them!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, but honestly, they rarely last that long! If you want to keep them a bit longer, refrigeration extends their life to nearly a week without drying out.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully — I pop cooled cookies in a sealed container with parchment paper between layers and store them for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature to enjoy them as if freshly baked.

Reheating

If you want that fresh-baked warmth, I usually reheat just a couple at a time in a 300°F oven for 3-4 minutes. This refreshes their softness and revives that melty white chocolate bliss perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular liquid food coloring instead of gel?

I recommend using gel food coloring because it provides vibrant color without thinning out your dough. Regular liquid coloring can make the dough runny and affect baking results.

Do these cookies last well, or do they dry out?

Thanks to the cream cheese and cake mix base, these cookies stay soft and moist for several days when stored in an airtight container. If you want to keep them longer, refrigeration helps prevent drying out.

Can I make dough ahead of time and freeze it?

Yes! After forming the dough balls, you can freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container or bag. When ready, roll in powdered sugar and bake as usual—just add a few extra minutes to bake time.

What’s the best way to get the crackled powdered sugar finish?

Chill your dough balls for 30 minutes, then roll them thoroughly in powdered sugar just before baking. The chill helps the cookies hold shape and creates that classic crackle effect with the powdered sugar as they bake.

Final Thoughts

This Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe holds a special place in my recipe rotation because it merges childhood summer memories with the joy of freshly baked cookies. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do—these cookies are sure to brighten any day and bring smiles to whoever you share them with.