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I love making these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese when I need something pretty and fun without spending all afternoon in the kitchen—think last-minute get-togethers, school events, or those evenings when you need something sweet. The naturally pink color makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, birthdays, or just a cozy weekend baking session.
Table of Contents
How to make Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese
Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese are soft, sweet cookies made by combining strawberry-flavored cake mix with cream cheese (and usually a few extra simple ingredients like eggs and butter).
Ingredients:
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1 package cream cheese (8 oz, softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, softened)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for rolling)
Instructions:
Follow these easy steps to make your Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat them together until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and well-blended.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract (if using) to the bowl. Continue mixing until all the wet ingredients are fully combined.
- Gradually add the strawberry cake mix to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a thick, sticky dough forms. Make sure the cake mix is fully incorporated.
- Since the dough is sticky, place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Chilling makes it easier to handle and also helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Scoop out about 1.5 tablespoons of dough (use a cookie scoop or a spoon) and roll into balls. If you’d like, roll each dough ball in powdered sugar to create a crinkled effect when baked.
- Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly set but still soft in the center.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them as they are or garnish with a drizzle of melted white chocolate for extra flair.
Tips for the Best Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies:
- Soften Your Ingredients Properly: Ensure both the cream cheese and butter are fully softened before mixing. Cold ingredients won’t blend as smoothly and can result in lumpy dough.
- Chill the Dough: For the best results, refrigerate the dough for 20–30 minutes before handling. This makes it less sticky and prevents spreading while baking.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies will look slightly undercooked when you take them out of the oven, which is perfect! As they cool, they will firm up and remain soft and chewy inside.
- Experiment with Add-Ins: Mix in white chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, or freeze-dried strawberries for extra flavor and texture.
- Test for Stickiness: If the dough is overly sticky even after chilling, you can lightly coat your hands with powdered sugar or flour when rolling the dough balls.
- Store Properly: Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them (especially in warm weather) or freeze for up to 3 months.
Ingredients Substitutes
If you’d like to make Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese but don’t have all the exact ingredients on hand, don’t worry! There are several substitutions you can make while still achieving delicious and satisfying results.
1. Strawberry Cake Mix Substitutes
- Other Flavors of Cake Mix: If you don’t have strawberry cake mix, you can use another flavor like vanilla, chocolate, lemon, or red velvet. To replicate the strawberry flavor, consider the following:
- Add 1–2 teaspoons of strawberry extract to the dough for an extra boost of fruity flavor.
- Mix freeze-dried strawberries (finely crushed) into a vanilla or white cake mix for natural strawberry flavor and pinkish color.
- Homemade Cake Mix Replacement: Combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Then add your strawberry flavoring (via extract or freeze-dried strawberries) to mimic the boxed cake mix.
2. Cream Cheese Substitutes
- Greek Yogurt or Thick Yogurt: Use unsweetened Greek yogurt (about 3/4 cup) as a substitute for cream cheese. It has a tangy flavor and creamy texture that works well, although the cookies will be slightly less rich.
- Mascarpone Cheese: Mascarpone is a great alternative as it has a similar texture and mild flavor, but be aware that it is less tangy than cream cheese.
- Softened Ricotta Cheese: Blend ricotta cheese in a food processor to make it smooth, then use it as a replacement for cream cheese. It’s less tangy but still provides richness.
- Vegan Cream Cheese: If you’re following a dairy-free or vegan diet, you can substitute regular cream cheese with plant-based alternatives such as those made from almond, cashew, or coconut.
3. Unsalted Butter Substitutes
- Salted Butter: If you only have salted butter, you can use it—reduce the amount of salt in the recipe (found in homemade cake mix substitutions, if applicable) or leave the salt out entirely.
- Coconut Oil: Coconut oil (measured as 1:1) works well in place of butter. Use refined coconut oil for a neutral flavor or unrefined for a slight coconut taste.
- Vegetable Oil: Replace butter with an equal amount of vegetable oil for a softer cookie dough. However, this may alter the texture since butter adds a bit of structure to the cookie.
- Margarine: Use margarine in the same 1:1 ratio as butter. Double-check that it’s at room temperature to ensure smooth blending.
4. Egg Substitutes (for Egg-Free or Vegan Cookies)
If you need to make the recipe without eggs, here are some easy swaps that work as a binding agent:
- Applesauce: Use 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce in place of 1 egg. This will also slightly enhance sweetness and moisture.
- Flaxseed Meal: Mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water, let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken, and use as a 1-egg replacement.
- Mashed Banana: Substitute 1 egg with 1/4 cup mashed banana (about half of a banana). This will add a slight banana flavor but works well in texture.
- Yogurt or Silken Tofu: Both can be swapped in at 1/4 cup per egg for a creamy, eggy texture without the eggs.
Final Thoughts
So what are you waiting for? Whip up a batch of these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese—you’ll probably wonder why you haven’t been making them all along!
More Cake Mix Recipes:
Ingredients
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (15.25 oz)
- 1 package cream cheese (8 oz, softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, softened)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat them together until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and well-blended.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract (if using) to the bowl. Continue mixing until all the wet ingredients are fully combined.
- Gradually add the strawberry cake mix to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a thick, sticky dough forms. Make sure the cake mix is fully incorporated.
- Since the dough is sticky, place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Chilling makes it easier to handle and also helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Scoop out about 1.5 tablespoons of dough (use a cookie scoop or a spoon) and roll into balls. If you'd like, roll each dough ball in powdered sugar to create a crinkled effect when baked.
- Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly set but still soft in the center.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them as they are or garnish with a drizzle of melted white chocolate for extra flair.
