Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Recipe

The Perfect Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Recipe for Beginners

Strawberry cake mix infuses these delightful sandwich cookies with vibrant, fruity charm that instantly captures attention.

Sweet and playful, these treats blend convenience with homemade magic for an irresistible dessert experience.

Soft, pillowy textures perfectly complement the bright, nostalgic flavor profile that dances across your palate.

Minimal ingredients upgrade an ordinary cake mix into an extraordinary cookie creation that sparks joy.

Quick mixing and simple techniques make these cookies accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

Light pink hues and delicate crumbles promise a whimsical treat that feels both comforting and elegant.

Bold yet approachable, these sandwich cookies deliver a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

Why Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Are So Fun to Make

  • Burst with Sweet Strawberry Sensation: Indulge in a delightful blend of strawberry cake mix cookies that deliver an explosion of fruity sweetness in every bite.
  • Elevate Texture with Sanding Sugar Crunch: Roll the cookies in sanding sugar for a magical crispy exterior that adds a delightful textural contrast to the soft, tender cookie interior.
  • Create Dreamy Almond Buttercream Sandwich: Sandwich the cookies with luxurious almond buttercream that transforms simple cookies into an elegant, bakery-style treat perfect for special moments or casual dessert cravings.
Cookie Base Ingredients:
  • Strawberry Cake Mix: Provides the base flavor and color, key to creating strawberry-themed cookies.
  • Eggs: Binds the ingredients together and adds structure to the cookie dough.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and helps create a soft, tender cookie texture.
  • Sanding Sugar: Adds a sweet, crunchy exterior and decorative sparkle to the cookies.
Buttercream Ingredients:
  • Butter: Forms the creamy base of the frosting, providing rich flavor and smooth texture.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the buttercream, creating the right consistency.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps adjust the buttercream's texture and adds richness.
Flavoring Ingredients:
  • Vanilla Extract: Provides a classic, warm background flavor to the buttercream.
  • Almond Extract: Adds a distinctive nutty and sweet flavor profile to the frosting.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances overall flavor of the buttercream.

How to Bake and Assemble These Colorful Sandwich Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Station

Warm up the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix the Cookie Dough

Grab a stand mixer and combine:
  • Strawberry cake mix
  • Eggs
  • Vegetable oil

Mix on low speed until a smooth dough forms.

Step 3: Roll and Sugar the Cookies

Spread sanding sugar on a plate. Use a cookie scoop to create dough balls. Roll each ball completely in sugar.

Step 4: Arrange and Bake

Place sugared dough balls on the prepared cookie sheet, keeping them 3 inches apart. Bake for 7-9 minutes until edges set and tops crack slightly.

Step 5: Cool the Cookies

Let cookies rest on the sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Whip the Almond Buttercream

In a stand mixer, beat softened butter until fluffy. Add:
  • Salt
  • Vanilla extract
  • Almond extract
  • Heavy cream

Mix on low speed.

Step 7: Perfect the Buttercream

Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Mix on low, then whip on high for 2 minutes. Adjust consistency with extra cream if needed.

Step 8: Create Buttercream Piping Bag

Transfer buttercream to a piping bag with a round tip or simply cut the bag’s end.

Step 9: Assemble Sandwich Cookies

Pipe buttercream on the flat side of one cookie. Top with another cookie, pressing gently.

Step 10: Store and Serve

Keep cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Bring to room temperature before serving.

  • Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for cake mix, eggs, and oil to ensure consistent cookie texture and flavor.
  • Sugar Coating Trick: Roll dough balls generously in sanding sugar for a sparkling, crunchy exterior that adds delightful texture.
  • Soft Butter Secret: Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother, fluffier buttercream that spreads easily.
  • Piping Pro Tip: Use a steady hand when piping buttercream to create even, attractive swirls between cookie layers.
  • Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate sandwich cookies briefly before serving to help buttercream set and enhance flavor melding.

Best Storage Ideas for Strawberry-Filled Cookies

  • Refrigerate: Place sandwich cookies in an airtight container, layering between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep chilled up to 7 days.
  • Freeze: Wrap individual cookies or the entire batch tightly in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months for maximum freshness.
  • Thaw and Serve: Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before enjoying. Consume within 24 hours of thawing for best taste and texture.

Creative Pairings for a Pop of Berry Sweetness

  • Pair with Fruity Rosé: Complement the strawberry cake mix cookies with a chilled, light rosé wine that echoes the sweet berry notes and cuts through the rich buttercream.
  • Match with Vanilla Bean Latte: The creamy almond buttercream finds its perfect partner in a smooth vanilla bean latte, creating a harmonious blend of nutty and sweet flavors.
  • Serve with Fresh Berries: Accompany the cookies with a small plate of fresh strawberries or mixed berries to enhance the fruity profile and add a refreshing contrast to the rich sandwich cookies.
  • Cool with Almond Milk: A glass of cold almond milk pairs wonderfully with these cookies, highlighting the almond extract in the buttercream and providing a cool, creamy complement to the sweet treat.

Flavor Swaps to Try With Cake Mix Cookies

  • Berry Bliss Cookies: Replace strawberry cake mix with raspberry cake mix for a vibrant, tangy flavor profile that pops with fruity goodness.
  • Chocolate Lovers' Dream: Swap strawberry cake mix with chocolate cake mix, then add chocolate chips to the dough for an indulgent, rich cookie experience.
  • Citrus Splash Sandwich: Use lemon cake mix instead of strawberry, incorporate lemon zest into the buttercream, and garnish with a light dusting of powdered sugar for a bright, refreshing twist.
  • Nutty Caramel Crunch: Mix chopped pecans into the dough, use caramel extract in the buttercream, and roll cookies in crushed graham crackers for added texture and depth of flavor.
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Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Recipe

Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 29 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet strawberry cake mix sandwich cookies blend creamy filling with tender, pink-hued cookies for an irresistible treat. Delightful dessert squares promise quick preparation and maximum enjoyment when craving something cheerful and deliciously simple.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 (15.25 ounces / 432 grams) box strawberry cake mix (Duncan Hines)
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil

Coating:

  • 1 ½ cups sanding sugar

Buttercream Filling:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/8 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking surface by lining a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and heating the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Create the cookie dough by combining strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil in a stand mixer. Blend on low speed until a smooth, uniform mixture forms.
  3. Create uniform dough balls using a 1-inch cookie scoop, then roll each portion in sanding sugar until completely coated.
  4. Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared cookie sheet, maintaining approximately 3 inches of space between each cookie.
  5. Bake the cookies for 7-9 minutes, watching for slightly cracked tops and set edges as indicators of doneness.
  6. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, allowing them to cool completely after an initial brief cooling period on the baking sheet.
  7. Prepare the almond buttercream by whipping softened butter until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  8. Incorporate salt, vanilla extract, almond extract, and heavy cream into the butter mixture, blending on low speed.
  9. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed and increasing to high after all sugar is incorporated. Whip for 2 minutes until the buttercream achieves a light, airy consistency.
  10. Adjust buttercream thickness by adding small amounts of heavy cream if needed.
  11. Fill a piping bag with the prepared buttercream, using a round tip or simply cutting the bag’s end.
  12. Construct sandwich cookies by piping a buttercream swirl on the flat side of one cooled cookie, starting from the center and moving outward.
  13. Gently press a second cookie on top of the buttercream to create a complete sandwich.
  14. Repeat the sandwich-making process with remaining cookies and buttercream.
  15. Preserve the cookies in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to one week, allowing them to reach room temperature before serving.

Notes

  • Elevate your baking game with these vibrant, sweet strawberry sandwich cookies that blend cake mix magic with creamy almond buttercream.
  • Use fresh, room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and optimal cookie texture.
  • Sanding sugar creates a delightful crispy exterior that adds sparkle and extra sweetness to each bite.
  • Roll cookie dough balls uniformly for consistent baking and professional-looking results.
  • Whip buttercream until light and fluffy to achieve a dreamy, cloud-like filling between cookies.
  • Refrigerate assembled cookies to help buttercream set and maintain structural integrity.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 9 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 325
  • Sugar: 36g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 47g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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