I have been wanting to blog about these cookies for a couple weeks but didn’t want to post pink food too far in advance of Valentine’s Day.
But it’s almost here.
In a month.
However, it’s never to start thinking about pink food. Plus, spring is right around the corner.
Right after that four feet of snow, for many of you, melts.
I made these cookies on Skylar’s first day of school at her new school.
I was such a wreck that day and didn’t know what to do with myself so I started baking and pink food.
If strawberry cookies with a thick layer of vanilla cream cheese frosting and red sanding sugar sprinkles don’t put a smile on your face, I’m convinced that nothing will.
These cookies and baking project helped to take my mind off the fact that my “baby” was at big girl school.
She asked me on the car ride home, “Mommy, what did you do today?”
When I told her I made pink cookies with sprinkles her eyes got as big as saucers and the smile on her face was enormous.
For my little princess, who’s favorite color is pink, these were a huge hit with her and a perfect treat after her first day at the new school.
The little cookies are moist and light and have the best strawberry flavor, which is balanced with the heavier, richer, and tangier cream cheese frosting.
And they are so soft, and so very, very moist.
Practically falling apart moist which is the only way I like baked goods.
I hope you try the strawberries cookies, which are so easy, and only use four ingredients.
I am all about taking a shortcut here or there and using a boxed mix if it’s going to give me great results.
Pillsbury already has the strawberry cake mix thing all figured out and I don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
I’d rather spend my time eating one of these.
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Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Cookies
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, half of one stick, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 1/8 cup strawberry cake mix (this is about 9 ounces, or half of an 18.25 ounce box of Pillsbury Strawberry Cake Mix
Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, half of one stick, softened
- ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Cookies – Preheat oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl combine the softened butter, egg, vanilla and stir by hand or with a mixer until combined. Add the cake mix and stir until smooth. If the dough seems too wet to be cookie dough, add a bit more cake mix, one tablespoon at a time, until it’s less wet. Conversely, if the dough seems dry and it’s not combining, add a tablespoon or two of water.
- If time permits, I recommend chilling the dough by placing the mixing bowl in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. Chilled dough spreads less during the baking process.
- Form 1 inch balls on a Silpat-lined, parchment paper-lined, or cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Allow for adequate spacing because they do spread; which is why I recommend chilling the dough and do not exceed 1 rounded tablespoon-sized or 1 inch sized balls (I only placed 9 cookies on one cookie sheet and do not recommend trying to fit the batch on one cookie sheet). Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are barely browned. They make look a bit loose and jiggly after only 8 to 10 minutes but they will continue to cook on the sheets after you remove the from the oven and will firm up as they cool. Do not overbake. Allow the cookies to cool well (on the cookie sheets is fine) before attempting to move them.
- While the cookies are baking, make the frosting.
- Frosting – In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer or whisk by hand. Add the vanilla extract and add two cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth. If you like thick(er) frosting, add more powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. I used nearly 4 cups of powdered sugar in mine because I like very thick frosting (shown in the photos).
- After the cookies have cooled, frost them (I applied a thick layer). Finish with sprinkles, sanding sugar, or other garnishes such as coconut flakes or chocolate shavings, as desired. Optionally, make sandwich cookies.
- Because these cookies are frosted with cream cheese frosting, you may want store them in the refrigerator if they’re going to be out more than a day or so; use common sense.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Stuffed cookies score bonus points:
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And for Valentine’s Day, Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries with the red surprise center would be fun.
These look delicious
I made strawberry cake mix cookies years ago on my blog, and thanks to Pinterest, they are the most popular thing on my blog right now! In fact, I’ve got a whole bunch of cake mix cookies in the works. Everybody loves them!!
After I made these, I saw your cake mix cookies…not on your blog…but on Pinterest.. Love it how it breathes new life into old recipes as you mentioned in one of your posts! :) I am finding the same with a few of mine that never were that “hot” and now…are hot!
My fiancé’s FAVORITE cake/cupcake is “the pink kind.” So it just so happens that I have a Pillsbury strawberry cake mix or two in my pantry. I’ve been looking for something else to do with it because to be honest with you, I get quite tired of strawberry cake after strawberry cupcakes after strawberry cake… He doesn’t care if it’s spring or fall, Valentine’s Day or Halloween; he loves strawberry cake. These will be perfect for a little change of texture! I’m actually quite excited about these! Thanks for the recipe!
Glad these may be a new and fun twist for you!
Cake box cookies are one of my favorites! Sometimes it’s nice to just throw a few ingredients together and have cookies.
I love cake mix cookies…the texture is just perfect!!! And I agree the cake mix companies have worked hard at the ratios…I have to support them and their families:-) What an awesome treat for your daughter and her first day at school!!!
no sense re-inventing the wheel, ya know!
These look YUMMY! I made your special k bars today. They are my go to dessert for my vb girls. They love em! :)
Oh thanks for LMK. That makes me happy!!! They were a childhood recipe that my mom made for me based on my grandma’s recipe.
My MIL gave me a recipe for cake mix cookies when we got married. I made them because they sounded so good and easy, but they didn’t come out very well. Buuut, I love strawberry cake mix, and yours look like they came out great! I was a very new cook/baker/wife then, so you may have convinced me to try them again! For our Valentine’s playgroup party, perhaps!
Dare I say, these are pretty much goofproof. Add the butter, an egg, mix. CHILL the dough first before baking, and you’ll be all set.
I love pink desserts any day :) These are definitely smile worthy! I’ve never made a cookie with cake mix before, but can definitely appreciate the shortcut.
Your strawberry cookies are the most gorgeous shade of PINK!! Beautiful – I bet they are just as yummy as they are pretty! =)
Averie these cookies look wonderful! So cute and sweet. I love the play on cookies and cream.
thanks! and for your great linkups you do!
Those are damn adorable and my 3yo would lose his crap over them. MAKING!
how did I not know you had a 3 year old?! Hope the day off school and MLK Day is going fabulous in your house :)
I kind of have a love affair with all things pink, and cookies are definitely no exception. I have a feeling I will be making these for myself and my beloved (well, mostly for myself) come Valentine’s Day. If I can wait that long. Perhaps I should make them today so as to make sure they will come out okay. You know, for quality control :)
Thanks for the great recipe Averie!
Quality control is very important :)