Name: Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 15.25 ounce box vanilla cake mix (Betty Crocker Super Moist recommended); 8 ounce block cream cheese, room temperature; ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 large egg; 1 tsp orange extract; ½ tsp orange gel food coloring; 11 ounce bag white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli recommended); ½ cup powdered sugar

There’s something so delightfully nostalgic about a creamsicle flavor, and these Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe captures that magic perfectly. With soft, tender bites bursting with orange and vanilla, plus melty white chocolate chips, these cookies are a treat worth baking again and again.

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 absolutely adore these Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe because they’re like a cozy little burst of summer wrapped up in a cookie. The way the cream cheese and vanilla cake mix come together creates this soft, almost cake-like texture that’s just heavenly.

Easy to whip up: Using a boxed vanilla cake mix keeps things simple without sacrificing flavor or texture.
That creamy orange flavor: The orange extract and gel food coloring bring out a true creamsicle vibe, really making these cookies pop.
Melty white chocolate chips: They add just the right sweetness and gooey surprise in every bite.
Beautiful crackle finish: The powdered sugar coating isn’t just pretty—it adds a delicate sweetness and texture contrast I love.

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

These ingredients team up perfectly to create a cookie that’s soft, flavorful, and just a little bit special. Let me tell you a bit about each one, so you know exactly why they're key to this recipe's success.

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: This is the base of the cookie, providing moisture, vanilla flavor, and a tender crumb with very little effort on your part.
Cream cheese: Adds richness and a slight tang that complements the orange beautifully while keeping the cookie moist.
Unsalted butter: Helps with richness and flavor balance, plus it makes the dough easier to work with.
Large egg: Binds everything together for structure without making it tough.
Orange extract: The star of the creamsicle flavor, so don’t skimp here.
Orange gel food coloring: Provides that lovely, vibrant orange hue without thinning the dough like liquid coloring would.
White chocolate chips: They melt slightly during baking, giving those sweet creamy pockets in every bite.
Powdered sugar: Lightly coats the cookies to create a delicate crackled top and a touch of extra sweetness.

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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

I love making these cookies just as written, but I also encourage you to play around with the recipe to suit what you like or what you have on hand. Personalizing recipes is half the fun!

Variation: One time, I swapped the orange extract for lemon extract and added lemon zest—it was a refreshing twist that gave me almost a creamsicle-lemonade vibe.
Dietary modifications: You can experiment with vegan cream cheese and butter alternatives to make these cookies dairy-free, though the texture might shift a bit.
Seasonal changes: Around the holidays, I sometimes add a sprinkle of orange zest on top after baking for extra zing and festive looks.

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

Step 1: Cream the cream cheese and butter

Start by beating together the cream cheese and butter until completely smooth with no lumps—this usually takes about a minute with a handheld mixer. Make sure both are at room temperature; cold ingredients can cause the mixture to seize up, making it harder to get that silky texture.

Step 2: Add the egg, orange extract & food coloring

Mix in the egg, orange extract, and gel food coloring until everything is well incorporated and the batter has a bright orange color. You’ll see the dough take on that cheerful creamsicle hue here—it's so satisfying.

Step 3: Stir in the cake mix and white chocolate chips

Gradually add the vanilla cake mix, mixing on low speed until thick and uniform. Then fold in the white chocolate chips with a spatula or wooden spoon. The batter will be very thick here, so don't overmix or the cookies can become tough.

Step 4: Chill and coat the cookie dough balls

Scoop out 1½ tablespoon-sized balls and place them on a parchment-lined sheet. Chill the dough balls for 30 minutes—this step helps the cookies hold their shape and develop that lovely crackle on top when baked. After chilling, roll each ball gently in powdered sugar for a beautiful, delicate coating.

Step 5: Bake and cool

Bake the powdered sugar-coated dough balls at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. You want the centers to look set but soft. Once out of the oven, cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This keeps them soft and chewy inside with that inviting crackled top.

Top Tip

From my experience baking these Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe, these tips really take your cookies from good to swoon-worthy. Don't skip the chilling step—it makes a huge difference in texture and appearance!

Use gel food coloring: It won’t alter your batter’s consistency and gives vibrant color that makes these cookies pop.
Room temperature cream cheese: Warm cream cheese blends smoothly with butter, avoiding lumps in the dough.
Gently fold in white chocolate chips: This prevents breaking chips and keeps their shape for melty bites.
Don’t skip powdered sugar coating: It creates that signature crackle and adds a subtle crispiness.

How to Serve Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep garnishes simple—sometimes a light dusting of extra powdered sugar once the cookies are fully cooled enhances their charm without overpowering the flavor. For a playful twist at parties, try adding a few tiny candied orange peel bits on top for a zingy bite and a festive look.

Side Dishes

Serve these cookies alongside a glass of cold milk or a lightly sweetened iced tea. They also pair beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent, creamsicle-inspired dessert experience.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged these cookies on a vibrant orange serving platter lined with fresh mint leaves. It’s a simple but stunning presentation that really highlights the fun citrus vibe and invites guests to dig in.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cookies keep their softness well when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, I recommend popping them in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh for almost a week.

Freezing

I freeze these cookies in airtight containers separated by parchment paper to avoid sticking. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw them at room temperature—sometimes I warm them a bit to get that freshly baked softness back.

Reheating

For reheating, I gently warm the cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds or pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. This softens them up and brings back that lovely melty white chocolate ooze.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular orange food coloring instead of gel?

It’s best to use gel food coloring because it provides vibrant color without thinning the dough. Regular liquid food coloring might make the dough too wet, affecting texture.

What if I don’t have orange extract?

You can substitute with fresh orange zest or a combination of vanilla and lemon extracts for a playful citrus twist, but orange extract really gives the clearest creamsicle flavor.

Can I skip the powdered sugar coating?

Yes, you can, but the powdered sugar creates a beautiful crackle effect and adds a subtle crisp sweetness that really elevates the cookies.

How do I store the cookies to keep them soft?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or in the fridge for longer. Adding a slice of bread inside the container can help keep them moist.

Final Thoughts

These Creamsicle Cookies with White Chocolate Chips Recipe hold a very special place in my kitchen repertoire—they’re quick, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing them as much as I do. Honestly, once you try these, they might just become your go-to cookie for whenever you want a little sunshine in every bite.