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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Angelfood Cake with Berries and Cream is another favorite play on berry + creamy flavors that I enjoy.
White Chocolate Snickerdoodles
Cookie Butter Spread Ginger Molasses Cookies (No Bake, Vegan, with GF option)
Stuffed cookies score bonus points:
Snickers Bar Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
And for Valentine’s Day, Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries with the red surprise center would be fun.
I’ll be making these for an annual girls V-day brunch. Thank you for sharing!!
: ))
Jen
That angel food cake looks delicious! I love mile high desserts!
I never would have thought to use cake mix for cookies. I love the festive pink color!
This is the sweetest post Averie! I love the pink tint with the white icing, perfect for Vday!
Heh, I’m not big on strawberry flavored things but am known to order drinks or foods based solely on the pink factor. Love it:)
I love strawberry cake. Something about it is so special and exciting, lol. I haven’t had it in years, but it’s yummy! And of course cream cheese makes everything taste better. Everything. :D
Oh you’d love these then. Very strawberry-ish flavored. I was pleasantly surprised!
These cookies look wonderful!
In fact.. all of the cookies you’ve listed look amazing.
I’ve never done ‘no bake cookies’, may have to give that one a try.. :P
I was just thinking yesterday about making my pink cookies with chocolate frosting – I made them last year with beet puree. But I got lazy. Too bad they don’t have a GF strawberry cake. I bet I could add strawberry jam to the yellow cake mix or something. I have a ton still from this summer.
Do you have any of those chocolate covered dried berries left? Those would be great in these cookies, if you are looking for how to use the rest of the box. ;)
Yes I still do have some of those choc covered strawberries left…I should try that! I have quite a few vday tricks up my sleeve yet…
And yes, beet juice to white cake mix would give you the look but not the taste and dealing with strawberry puree to get the flavor is more than I personally would bite off but hey, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just depends how project-ey you’re feeling in all your spare time :)
My heart melted when you revealed Skylar’s sweet reaction. You are such a loving Mom! I love baking things for my precious boys and even though they are almost 14 and 16, I still bake things for them at least 2 times per week…and they ALWAYS appreciate it so much. I showed my youngest this recipe and asked how he felt about bringing a batch to school on Valentines Day and how would his friends who are girls would like pretty pink cookies…and a slow smile spread over his face and he said “YES Mom!” :-)
Awww, thanks for actually reading the post and her reaction. It takes another mom to really know how special those moments are…like honestly, I LIVE to just make her happy. If I can get a “this is good babe” out of Scott or a “thanks Mommy” out of her…it makes my week :)
I love the texture of cake mix cookies. I love the pink, bring on Valentine’s day!
Ohhh you’ve made them before or had them? I never had!
Yes, made them all the time growing up. Except we used canola oil instead of butter. I bet the butter adds extra flavor though!
my favorite trick with boxed brownie mix:
cook down 1/2 pint berries into a syrup and strain.
prepare mix according to directions and pour into pan. drizzle 1/2 the berry syrup over the batter and fold/swirl in and then bake according to directions on box. you can also add chocolate chips if you’re in the mood, I recommend it.
melt 3 oz chocolate and combine with remaining berry syrup.
while brownies are cooling, but not cool all the way, carefully pour the berry chocolate mixture evenly over the top and smooth with a spatula/dull butter knife.
gooey, insane, i also recommend going forkfirst into the pan and foregoing all decorum for these.
omg that sounds amazing. My dad loves choc covered cherries, raspberry sauces, all that kind of thing and he would love love love this…not that it sounds too shabby to me either :)
I love cake mix cookies! The icing on these looks amazing! Definitely have to try these!
thanks and I had never actually had them…til these!
Yum! These look great! I never bought Strawberry cake mix, but next time I’m at the store I’ll have to check it out. This weekend was actually the first weekend I made cookies with cake mix. I’m actually having them on my blog tomorrow. There so good! Cake box cookies are going to be my newest thing. Easy, low calorie and tasty!! I can’t wait to play around with other flavors. I’m totally loving your strawberry ones, they are so perfect for V-day!! Yah, I’m going to copy you and make strawberry cookies!!
best 1.79 you’ll spend this month would be a box of strawberry cake mix :)
you know i have yet to use a cake mix for cookies.
i can only imagine how many they must make.
i did make a muffin once using the vanilla or butter cake mix? can’t remember but it was good.
Girl..that’s why I halved the box, 1 c of mix yielded me 12-13 cookies, and a whole box of mix would net you about 2 dozen cookies but since I didnt know how these were going to turn out, I started small. You’ve gotta try these.
Or if you like vanilla/butter flavor, these
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/08/white-chocolate-vanilla-marshmallow-cake-bars.html
You’re an amazing baker so I am clearly not shedding any new light for you though :)
That angel food cake picture took me by surprise, it’s positively gorgeous! and people don’t really put frosting on cookies very often anymore, it’s so good!
frosting makes it all better :)
My kiddo was just asking for strawberry cupcakes, from the box mom! I don’t know, been there done that, but strawberry cake mix cookies on the other hand are something I might be able to sink my teeth into. I think the photos convinced me…I know what we’ll be baking tomorrow! YUM!
you’ve got to try these, especially if you’re kiddo was asking. The Universe has spoken to you :)