These Strawberries and Cream Cake Mix Cookies are soft, rich, and packed with sweet strawberry flavor in every bite. Made with a vanilla cake mix base, cream cheese, white chocolate chips, and swirls of strawberry jam, they bake up thick, tender, and bakery-style.
They’re the kind of cookie that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort thanks to a simple cake mix shortcut. With a short chill time and quick bake, these cookies are perfect for spring, Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or anytime you’re craving a strawberries-and-cream dessert.
Recipe Highlights
- Soft, tender texture. Cream cheese and pudding mix create cookies that stay soft and rich for days.
- Big strawberries and cream flavor. Freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry jam deliver bold flavor without excess moisture.
- Easy cake mix base. Using cake mix keeps prep fast and consistent, even for beginner bakers.
- Beautiful jam swirls. The streaks of strawberry jam give each cookie a bakery-style look.
- Perfect for spring and holidays. These cookies are especially popular for Valentine’s Day, Easter, and spring gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Vanilla cake mix: Creates the base of the dough and keeps the cookies soft and fluffy.
- Cream cheese: Adds richness and helps create a soft, tender texture.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix: Used dry, it helps bind the dough and maintain softness.
- Egg: Provides structure and helps the cookies bake evenly.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor and complements the strawberries.
- Butter: Melted and cooled butter adds moisture and richness.
- White chocolate chips: Add sweetness and a creamy contrast to the strawberry flavor.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: Lightly crushed for intense strawberry flavor without added moisture.
- Strawberry jam: Thick jam creates beautiful swirls and pockets of fruity sweetness.
- Powdered sugar (optional): Adds a soft, crackled finish when rolled before baking.
Tips for the Best Cookies
Full instructions for making the recipe can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips and tricks.
- Don’t skip the chill time. Chilling the dough helps the cookies bake up thicker and prevents the strawberry jam from spreading too much in the oven.
- Use freeze-dried strawberries only. Freeze-dried strawberries give a strong strawberry flavor without adding moisture. Fresh or frozen berries will make the dough too wet.
- Gently swirl the jam. Fold the jam in just a few times so you get pretty streaks instead of fully pink dough.
- Watch the bake time closely. The cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them from the oven. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet. Allowing them to cool for a few minutes on the pan helps them firm up and makes them easier to transfer without breaking.
- Line your baking sheets. Parchment paper helps prevent sticking and keeps the bottoms from browning too quickly.
How to Store Strawberries and Cream Cookies
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for several days.
- Layer carefully: Use parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
- Freezer-friendly: Freeze baked cookies for up to two months.
- Thawing: Let frozen cookies thaw at room temperature before serving.
FAQs
Can I skip the pudding mix?
No. The pudding mix plays a key role in keeping the cookies soft and tender. Skipping it will change the texture and make the cookies drier.
Can I use fresh strawberries instead of freeze-dried?
Fresh strawberries add too much moisture and will cause the dough to spread and bake unevenly. Freeze-dried strawberries give a strong flavor without affecting texture.
Why do the cookies look slightly underdone when baked?
These cookies finish setting as they cool. Removing them while the centers are still soft keeps them tender instead of dry.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough can be covered and refrigerated overnight, which can actually improve the flavor and texture.
Do I have to roll the dough in powdered sugar?
No. The powdered sugar is optional and mainly adds a decorative, crackled look. The cookies will still taste great without it.
MORE DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY COOKIE RECIPES TO TRY:
- Light and easy to make, Strawberry Cool Whip Cookies use strawberry cake mix, Cool Whip, and an egg for a soft cookie with fewer calories.
- Copycat Crumbl Strawberry Shortcake Cookies are soft, bakery-style cookies bursting with strawberry flavor, topped with vanilla frosting and a crunchy strawberry streusel.
- Soft and buttery, Strawberry Lemon Thumbprint Cookies combine sweet strawberry jam with a bright lemon-glazed finish.
- Made with fresh strawberries, Frosted Strawberry Cookies are pillowy sugar cookies topped with smooth strawberry buttercream.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy sugar cookies with cream cheese and bright strawberry flavor, perfect for spring.
Strawberries and Cream Cake Mix Cookies combine white chocolate, strawberry jam, and a soft cake mix base for a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert.
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