Nothing beats the sweet, nostalgic scent of freshly baked treats filling your kitchen, and this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe brings that feeling with a fun twist. These cookies are soft, bursting with strawberry flavor, and topped with a luscious glaze that makes them downright irresistible.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe is one of my favorite quick-bake secrets—it’s delightfully simple yet feels like a special treat. With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you get cookies that are tender, flavorful, and topped with a shiny strawberry glaze that’s pure perfection.
- Speedy and Simple: Uses a strawberry cake mix as the base, which means less measuring and mixing but loads of flavor.
- Beautiful Strawberry Flavor: The glaze made with preserves amps up the sweetness and fruitiness just right.
- Soft & Chewy Texture: These cookies aren’t crispy but tender and chewy—exactly how I like them!
- Customizable & Kid-Friendly: Add white chocolate chips or swap in applesauce for eggs for allergy-friendly tweaks.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe comes together with a short list of ingredients that complement each other perfectly. The strawberry cake mix brings the vibrant flavor and crumb, while eggs and oil bind and add moisture. The glaze ties everything together with a sweet, glossy finish.
- Strawberry Cake Mix: Using a pre-made mix keeps the strawberry flavor intense and the batter easy to handle.
- Eggs: Help the cookies hold their shape and provide structure without making them dense.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture, ensuring these cookies stay soft and chewy.
- Powdered Sugar: For a smooth, sweet base in the glaze that melts perfectly onto the cookies.
- Strawberry Preserves: Brings a fresh, fruity punch and a bit of texture to the glaze.
- Half and Half: Thins the glaze just enough without watering down the strawberry flavor.
Make It Your Way
While I love the classic version of this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe, I've definitely played around with it to suit different tastes or occasions. You can easily make it your own with a couple of simple tweaks!
- White Chocolate Chips: One of my favorite additions—adds a creamy sweetness that pairs beautifully with the strawberry.
- Egg Substitute: If you prefer not to use eggs, swapping in ½ cup of applesauce works well and keeps the cookies moist.
- Smaller Cookies: Use a 1-tablespoon scoop instead of 1½ tablespoons and bake for about 8 minutes for bite-sized treats.
- Glaze Variations: Try mixing other berry preserves like raspberry or black cherry for a different but equally delicious glaze.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix the Dough Just Right
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. I like using a handheld mixer on medium speed to blend everything until just combined. The batter will be thick—don’t worry, that’s exactly how it should be to form soft cookies.
Step 2: Scoop and Bake with Care
Using a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop, drop the dough onto the prepared sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn just a faint golden shade. Resist the urge to overbake—that tender center is the best part! Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after they come out; this helps them set up before you move them to a cooling rack.
Step 3: Whisk Up the Glaze
While your cookies bake, mix powdered sugar, strawberry preserves, and half and half in a small bowl until smooth. The glaze should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little more half and half; too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
Step 4: Glaze and Enjoy
Once your cookies have cooled completely, spread or spoon the glaze on top. I like to let the glaze set for a bit so it doesn’t get too melty or sticky when serving. These cookies are the perfect blend of soft strawberry flavor and that sweet glaze finish you'll keep coming back to.
Top Tip
After making this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe several times, I’ve picked up a handful of little tricks that really make a difference. They help you get the best texture and flavor every time.
- Don’t Overbeat the Dough: Mixing just until combined keeps cookies tender instead of tough.
- Rest on the Sheet: Letting cookies sit for 5 minutes before moving them helps them hold their shape and finish baking with a soft center.
- Glaze Timing: Always wait until the cookies are completely cooled before glazing to avoid melting or running glaze.
- Freezer Prep: Freeze dough balls on a parchment-lined tray, then store in a bag — you can bake from frozen! Just add 5-7 minutes extra to the baking time for perfection.
How to Serve Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle on a little sanding sugar or even some freeze-dried strawberry powder for an extra pop of color and texture. Sometimes, a few mini white chocolate chips scattered on top right after glazing add that lovely melt-in-your-mouth sweetness too.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a glass of cold milk, a cup of hot tea, or even a light strawberry smoothie for an all-around strawberry experience. For brunch, try them alongside fresh fruit or yogurt for a fun, fruity spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthday parties or baby showers, arrange these cookies on a pretty platter with fresh strawberry slices and edible flowers. You can also stack them into mini cookie towers tied with ribbon for a charming gift idea.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature with wax paper between layers to keep them from sticking. They stay fresh and soft for about 4 days—perfect for a few days of snacking without any fuss.
Freezing
Whenever I have time, I freeze cookie dough balls individually on a parchment-lined tray, then pop them into a freezer-safe bag. When I want fresh cookies, I bake them frozen—you’ll just need to add about 5-7 extra minutes to the baking time, but it’s totally worth it for quick fresh-baked goodness.
Reheating
If you have leftovers that have lost a little softness, warming them in the microwave for 10 seconds or popping them in a low oven for a few minutes brings back that fresh-baked tender texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
To make gluten-free Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies, you'll need to find a gluten-free strawberry cake mix since traditional mixes contain wheat flour. Additionally, check other ingredients like preserves and glaze components to ensure they're also gluten-free.
Stored in an airtight container with wax paper between layers at room temperature, these cookies remain soft and delicious for up to 4 days.
Yes! You can substitute 2 large eggs with ½ cup of applesauce to keep the cookies moist and egg-free, which is great for allergies or egg-free diets.
Absolutely! Frozen dough balls can be baked directly without thawing. Just add 5-7 minutes to the usual baking time to ensure they cook through evenly.
Final Thoughts
I’ve always loved desserts that somehow feel homemade but fit into a busy day, and this Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies Recipe hits that sweet spot for me every time. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just brightening a regular day, these cookies will bring a smile. Give them a try—you’ll find yourself reaching for that strawberry glaze again and again!
Print
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
Delight in these strawberry sheet cake cookies made from a strawberry cake mix, topped with a sweet strawberry glaze. Soft, flavorful, and easy to make, these cookies are perfect for berry lovers and come together quickly with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 15.25 ounces box strawberry cake mix (Pillsbury recommended)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
Strawberry Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup strawberry preserves
- 2 tablespoons half and half
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside for later use.
- Mix Cookie Dough: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Using a handheld mixer on medium speed, mix until the ingredients are just combined; the dough will be very thick.
- Scoop and Bake Cookies: Use a 1½ tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out the cookie dough, spacing each cookie 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes until the edges are just barely golden.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after baking, then transfer them carefully to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: While the cookies bake and cool, whisk together powdered sugar, strawberry preserves, and half and half in a small bowl until smooth.
- Glaze Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cooled, spoon the strawberry glaze over the tops evenly and allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days; separate layers with wax paper.
- Cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to 2 months; bake frozen dough by adding 5-7 minutes to the baking time.
- Optional additions include white chocolate chips added into the cookie dough for extra flavor.
- For smaller cookies, use a 1-tablespoon scoop and reduce baking time to 8 minutes.
- To make egg-free cookies, substitute ½ cup applesauce for the eggs.
- Allow cookies to rest on the sheet before transferring to a rack to avoid breaking; always glaze them fully cooled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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