3-Ingredient Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

I’m all about turning cake mixes and store-bought doughs into easy, crowd-pleasing treats, and these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies are proof that a little shortcut can go a long way. They came out of a total baking fail (because what recipe story doesn’t start that way?).

A few years ago, my husband requested a strawberry cake for his birthday, and for reasons I still don’t understand, I decided to make one from scratch. Spoiler: it was a disaster. I should’ve just grabbed the trusty Duncan Hines mix from the start. And of course, after that, no one wanted strawberry cake again.

So, I switched gears. I’ve made a lot of cake mix cookies over the years, my lemon cookies and red velvet versions are always a hit, so I figured, why not strawberry? I tested them as a summer treat, and now these pink beauties are officially a fan favorite around here.

Ingredients

• Cake mix: Either a 15 or 16 oz box cake mix will work. I’m partial to Duncan Hines, but any brand you like will work.
• Vegetable Oil: You can substitute butter or canola oil
• Eggs: I always use large eggs when baking.

Step by step instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add the strawberry cake mix, eggs and oil.

Stir the ingredients together, until you can’t see any more dry cake mix.  You don’t want to overmix this cookie dough.

Using a cookie scoop to make sure all your cookies are the same size, scoop the cookie dough onto your prepared baking tray, leaving about 2” between dough balls.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until you see cracks on the top of the cookies, being careful not to overbake them.

Remove from the baking tray to a cooling rack and once cool, enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

• For Mother’ Day Brunch: When I think of brunch for Mother’s Day, I think of spring treats.  I would make a menu of my Zucchini Quiche, Carrot Bacon, Caprese Pasta Salad, with homemade iced mochas or lemonade to drink and these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies and Chocolate Chunk Cookies for dessert.
• First Day of Summer: Celebrate the first day of summer with a bright and sunny treat. Pair them with Funfetti cookie dip for the happiest celebration around! Serve with lemonade.
• Holiday Cookie Swap: These cookies are the perfect color for the holidays from the winter right on through to Valentine’s Day.  Decorate the strawberry cookies with a drizzle of frosting and white sanding sugar for a sparkling festive treat.  You could even sprinkle dried strawberry over the top for something extra.

Variations

While strawberry cookies from a cake mix are delicious on their own, I have 3 easy ways to dress them up for a sweet table, brunch with friends or for a teacher appreciation cookie tray.

• Strawberry sandwich cookies: You’ll want to look for two cookies that are the same size.  Then place a dollop of either vanilla buttercream or pink frosting in the middle of one cookie and top with the other one, pressing down slightly to distribute the filling well. Want a chocolate version to pair with the strawberries, I've got a chocolate sandwich cookie recipe that's divine!
• Strawberry Crinkle Cookies: Roll each cookie dough ball in powdered sugar before baking for a crinkle effect on the baked cookies.
• Mini Cookies: Use a mini cookie scoop or teaspoon measuring spoon to make mini cookies.  Everything seems cuter when it’s tiny!   The mini cookies can get the crinkle or sandwich cookie treatment as well.  

Storage Tips

Store the baked strawberry cake mix cookies in a zip top bag or air tight container on the counter for up to 4 days.  If you have decorated them or made sandwich cookies, I suggest using wax paper or parchment paper to separate the layers in your container.

Freezing Instructions: You can either freeze the cookie dough balls before baking, or bake the cookies as directed and freeze them already baked.  They will last in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Other Desserts from Boxed Baking Mixes

📖 Recipe