Nothing beats the sweet, fruity aroma of freshly baked treats filling your kitchen, especially when they're as simple and delightful as this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. These cookies combine the fun of cake mix with the charm of cookies, creating a soft, sweet, and bursting-with-strawberry flavor bite you'll want to make again and again.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I've been making this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe on repeat because it’s incredibly easy but tastes like you put in way more effort. Plus, the strawberry glaze on top adds just the right touch of sweetness and texture that feels like a little celebration in every bite.
- Quick and Easy Preparation: You can whip these up in under an hour, no fancy techniques needed.
- Moist, Flavorful Cookies: Using cake mix keeps them soft and strawberry-packed without any extra mess.
- Glaze that Adds a Special Finish: The strawberry glaze boosts flavor and adds a lovely shine that’s just irresistible.
- Flexible Recipe: There are simple swaps and mix-ins you can try, making this recipe your own in every batch.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients here are simple but thoughtfully chosen to create a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Each one plays a part in making these cookies tender, sweet, and irresistibly strawberry without any fuss.
- Strawberry Cake Mix: This is the star ingredient that brings all the strawberry flavor and sweetness without needing fresh fruit.
- Eggs: They bind the dough together and add moisture resulting in soft cookies.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds richness and keeps the cookies tender and chewy.
- Powdered Sugar: Used in the glaze, it adds sweetness and creates smooth texture for drizzling.
- Strawberry Preserves: Packed with real fruit bits, it gives the glaze bright, natural strawberry flavor.
- Half and Half: A splash helps thin the glaze to just the right consistency for pouring over the cookies.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love most about this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tailor. Whether you want to add a mix-in or adjust the size of the cookies, you can really make this your own comfort bake.
- White Chocolate Chips: I sometimes fold these into the dough for a creamy, sweet burst that complements the strawberry perfectly.
- Smaller Cookies: Using a 1-tablespoon scoop instead of 1½ tablespoons yields bite-sized treats and bakes faster—just reduce the baking time to about 8 minutes.
- Egg Substitute: I’ve swapped in ½ cup of applesauce when I’m out of eggs or want them a bit lighter, and it works wonderfully.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix up your dough until it’s thick and beautiful
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, I add the strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, mix just until everything comes together — the dough will look thick and a little sticky, which is perfect. Don’t overmix or your cookies could end up dense.
Step 2: Scoop and bake with care
I use a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop for even, generously sized cookies. Space them about 2 inches apart on your baking sheet because they spread just a bit but stay thick. Pop them in the oven for 10–12 minutes — keep an eye on them so the edges turn just barely golden. The key here is not to overbake; you want soft texture, not crisp.
Step 3: Whip up the luscious strawberry glaze
While the cookies bake and cool, mix your powdered sugar, strawberry preserves, and half and half in a small bowl. Stir or whisk until nice and smooth — the glaze should be pourable but thick enough to hold on the cookies. This step is where the magic of flavor comes together.
Step 4: Glaze and enjoy!
Once your cookies have completely cooled (trust me on this – glazing warm cookies will just make a mess), spoon or drizzle the strawberry glaze over the tops. Let the glaze set for a few minutes, then get ready for the soft, sweet, strawberry-packed delight.
Top Tip
From my own kitchen adventures, a few little things make a big difference with this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe. These tips help me get the texture and flavor perfect every time, and I hope they do the same for you.
- Don’t Skip the Rest Time: Letting cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them makes them less fragile and prevents breakage.
- Cool Completely Before Glazing: I learned the hard way that glazing warm cookies causes the icing to melt and run off, so patience here is key.
- Consistent Scoops Matter: Using a cookie scoop helps the cookies bake evenly and look picture-perfect — plus it’s a huge time saver!
- Freeze Dough Balls: I keep extra dough balls in the freezer and bake fresh cookies whenever I want. Just add a few extra minutes to the bake time when baking from frozen.
How to Serve Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I often sprinkle a few freeze-dried strawberry pieces or a small pinch of edible glitter on top of the glaze for a festive touch. Fresh mint leaves or a dusting of powdered sugar also add a charming presentation that makes these cookies pop on a cookie platter.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a glass of cold milk, a cup of your favorite herbal tea, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat. They’re a perfect afternoon pick-me-up or dessert after a casual meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging these cookies on a pretty platter with fresh strawberries and a small bowl of glaze for guests to dip. They also make a sweet addition to a dessert charcuterie board, paired with white chocolate squares and nuts for texture variety.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After baking, store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering with wax paper to prevent sticking. They stay fresh and soft for up to 4 days — perfect for nibbling throughout the week.
Freezing
I like freezing the cookie dough balls before baking. They keep well in the freezer up to 2 months. When I’m ready for fresh cookies, I bake them straight from frozen, adding about 5-7 minutes to the bake time. It’s saved me more than once when surprise guests drop by.
Reheating
If you want a fresh-baked feel, I pop leftover cookies in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes to warm them up slightly. The glaze softens nicely, and they taste just like they came straight off the sheet pan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While this recipe shines with strawberry cake mix, I’ve also tried it with vanilla and lemon mixes. Just keep in mind the glaze flavor might need tweaking to complement the new cookie flavor.
If you don’t have strawberry preserves, you can substitute with raspberry or apricot preserves to add a fruity sweetness. Another trick I’ve used is mixing fresh strawberries with a bit of honey to create a quick glaze alternative.
Yes! To make this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe gluten-free, choose a gluten-free strawberry cake mix. Just be sure to check the other ingredients to confirm they’re gluten-free as well, especially your preserves and any mix-ins.
Allowing the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes helps them firm up a bit, making them easier to transfer to a cooling rack without breaking. It also helps finish the baking process gently for that perfect soft texture.
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe quickly became one of my go-tos whenever I want a homey, sweet treat that’s both simple and special. It’s the kind of recipe that fits perfectly into busy days when you want amazing results without hassle. Honestly, sharing these with friends and family always sparks smiles and “wow” moments — so I hope you’ll love it as much as I do. Give it a whirl, and soon this recipe might be your little secret for effortless, crave-worthy cookies.
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Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 18 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Strawberry Sheet Cake Cookies are soft, thick, and bursting with sweet strawberry flavor. Made with a strawberry cake mix base and topped with a luscious strawberry glaze, they are perfect for a delightful treat or dessert.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 15.25 ounces box of strawberry cake mix (Pillsbury recommended)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup strawberry preserves
- 2 tablespoons half and half
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix Dough: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Use a handheld mixer on medium speed to combine the ingredients until just mixed. The dough will be thick.
- Scoop Cookies: Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing each cookie 2 inches apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are just barely golden. Remove the cookies and let them rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: While cookies bake, whisk together powdered sugar, strawberry preserves, and half and half in a small bowl until smooth.
- Glaze Cookies: Once the cookies have completely cooled, spoon the strawberry glaze over the top of each cookie. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Use wax paper to separate layers.
- Cookie dough balls can be frozen for 2 months; bake directly from freezer, adding 5-7 minutes to baking time.
- For variation, add white chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
- Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop yields smaller cookies; reduce baking time to 8 minutes.
- Egg substitution: replace 2 large eggs with ½ cup applesauce for an egg-free option.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before glazing for best result.
- Let cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes after baking to set shape.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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