If you ask me, these strawberry cake mix cookies are a total game-changer.
These pretty pink treats combine the ease of boxed cake mix with the fun of homemade cookies. The sweet strawberry flavor brings a bit of brightness, while the soft, chewy texture makes them impossible to resist.
They’re rolled in powdered sugar before baking, creating a sweet, crackly coating that adds an extra special touch. Plus, the pink color makes them look like you spent hours in the kitchen (when really, they’re super quick to make).
They’re perfect for bake sales, birthday parties, or just because you’re craving something sweet and simple.
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- 4-ingredient recipe – With just cake mix, eggs, oil, and white chocolate chips, you can whip up these cookies without a grocery store run – perfect for last-minute baking!
- Quick preparation – These cookies go from mixing bowl to table in under 25 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or sudden sweet cravings.
- Foolproof results – Using cake mix as the base means these cookies turn out soft and perfect every time, even if you’re a beginner baker.
- Kid-friendly baking project – The simple measuring and mixing steps make this an ideal recipe to make with children, and they’ll love the pretty pink color.
What Kind of Cake Mix Should I Use?
For these cookies, you’ll want to grab a box of strawberry cake mix from your grocery store’s baking aisle. Most major brands like Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, or Pillsbury make strawberry cake mix that will work perfectly in this recipe. The regular-sized boxes (15-16 oz) are what you’re looking for, not the larger “family size” versions. If you can’t find strawberry cake mix at your local store, you could try ordering online, or some bakers have success using white cake mix plus strawberry extract and a few drops of pink food coloring. Just make sure you’re using a fresh box of cake mix – one that hasn’t been sitting in your pantry for years – since the leavening agents can lose their effectiveness over time.
Options for Substitutions
These cookies are super simple to make, and you’ve got some options when it comes to ingredients:
- Strawberry cake mix: While strawberry cake mix gives these cookies their signature flavor, you can use any flavor cake mix you like – vanilla, chocolate, or even lemon work great. Just keep in mind this will change the final taste of your cookies.
- Oil: Any neutral-flavored oil works here – vegetable, canola, or even melted coconut oil (which adds a slight coconut flavor). You can also use melted butter as a 1:1 replacement for a richer taste.
- White chocolate morsels: Feel free to swap these with milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even butterscotch chips. You could also use chopped nuts or dried fruit if you’re not a fan of chocolate.
- Eggs: The eggs are pretty important for structure in this recipe, but if you need an egg-free version, try using 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce per egg. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still be tasty.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest mistake when making cake mix cookies is overmixing the dough – stop as soon as the ingredients are combined, or you’ll end up with tough, flat cookies instead of soft, chewy ones.
Another common error is using a warm cookie sheet between batches, which causes the cookies to spread too quickly and become thin and crispy – always let your baking sheets cool completely or rotate between two sheets.
To prevent sticking, avoid greasing your baking sheets and use parchment paper instead, as the extra oil can make your cookies spread too much and brown unevenly.
For the perfect texture, take the cookies out when they still look slightly underdone in the center (around 8-10 minutes), as they’ll continue to set while cooling on the baking sheet – waiting until they look completely done will result in dry, overcooked cookies.
What to Serve With Strawberry Cookies?
These sweet and pretty strawberry cookies are perfect for pairing with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee or tea. Since they’re on the sweeter side with white chocolate, I like serving them alongside some fresh berries – especially fresh strawberries – to complement their fruity flavor. If you’re putting together a dessert spread, these cookies work really well with vanilla ice cream, either on their own or made into ice cream sandwiches. For afternoon tea or coffee breaks, I usually arrange them on a plate with some other cookies that have different flavors, like chocolate chip or lemon, to give everyone some tasty options.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These strawberry cookies stay soft and yummy when kept in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll last about 5 days – if you can resist eating them all before then! Place a piece of bread in the container to help keep them extra soft.
Freeze: Want to save some for later? These cookies freeze really well! Just put them in a freezer bag or container with wax paper between layers, and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. It’s super handy when you need a quick sweet treat or want to make them ahead for a party.
Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen cookies, just take out what you need and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. They’ll taste just as good as the day you made them!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 8-10 minutes |
| Total Time | 18-25 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2400
- Protein: 20-25 g
- Fat: 100-110 g
- Carbohydrates: 300-320 g
Ingredients
- 1 package strawberry-flavored cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 cup white chocolate morsels
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
While the oven is heating, gather all your ingredients to ensure you have everything you need for a smooth baking process.
Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the strawberry cake mix, oil, and eggs.
Mix on medium speed until a soft dough forms.
Ensure that the ingredients are well incorporated to form an even dough consistency.
Step 3: Add White Chocolate Chips
Once the dough is prepared, stir in the white chocolate chips by hand using a spatula or wooden spoon.
Be gentle to evenly distribute the chips throughout the dough without overmixing.
Step 4: Portion the Dough onto Baking Sheets
Using a small ice cream scoop or melon-baller, scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough onto a prepared baking sheet, spacing each portion about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies have a slight golden hue.
Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
Allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for a minute or two after removing them from the oven.
This helps them set properly.
Then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, enjoy your delicious strawberry white chocolate cookies!
