These fun, pink Strawberry Kiss Cake Mix Cookies are an easy treat, perfect for any occasion. With a box of cake mix and just a few simple ingredients, you can make these sparkly, easy cookies in no time.
Easy Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
These pink cookies are the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or any special occasion. You can mix up the colors by using different shades of sanding sugar; I went with baby pink and hot pink for a fun vibe. I also love a bit of sparkle, and the sparkling sugar gives the cookies a fun sparkle and crunchy texture in each bite.
The texture of these cookies is so soft and creamy, thanks to the cream cheese in the dough. This pairs perfectly with the creamy strawberry ice cream cone kisses. I hope they never stop making these kisses because I really do love them.
Check out these delicious Strawberry Cookies with White Chocolate Chips for an even easier strawberry cake mix cookie option! Or, if you love the sparkly shimmer of these cookies, check out these Sugar Blossom Cookies!
Simple Ingredients
- Cream cheese – Adds a soft and creamy texture to the cookie base, making each bite rich and delicious.
- Butter – Provides the fat for a tender and flavorful cookie.
- Egg – Helps bind the ingredients together and adds moisture to the cookies.
- Box of strawberry cake mix – Simplifies the recipe by providing the strawberry flavor and dry ingredients in one step.
- Pink sanding sugar – Adds a fun sparkle and a bit of crunch to the cookies.
- Strawberry Ice Cream Cone Kisses – The perfect creamy and sweet complement to the soft cookies, adding a delightful strawberry flavor.
Making the Cookies
- Preheat and prep – Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix the wet ingredients – In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and egg until smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate the cake mix – Add the dry cake mix to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft cookie dough forms.
- Refrigerate the dough – Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Shape the cookies – Form balls of dough using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop or spoon. Roll the cookie balls in sanding sugar to coat.
- Bake – Arrange the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are set..
- Add the Kisses – Immediately press a strawberry ice cream cone kiss into the center of each cookie as soon as they come out of the oven.
- Cool – Let the cookies cool completely on the cookie sheet.
Variations and substitutions
Granulated sugar – For a simpler option, you can roll the dough balls in granulated sugar instead of sanding sugar. This will give the cookies a subtle sparkle and a bit of extra sweetness.
Powdered sugar – Try rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar to create a different texture and look. This will create a soft, slightly crinkled appearance on the cookies.
Flavor combinations – Experiment with different cake mix and kiss combinations to create a variety of flavors:
- Chocolate strawberry – Make a chocolate strawberry version using standard chocolate kisses instead of the strawberry ice cream cone kisses. This combination of chocolate and strawberry flavors is always a hit.
- Double chocolate – Use chocolate cake mix with standard Hershey kisses for a rich, double-chocolate treat.
- Birthday Cake – Make a colorful version with Funfetti cake mix and Birthday Cake kisses, perfect for celebrations.
- Caramel – Pair yellow cake mix with caramel kisses for a classic and delicious combination.
Tips for success
- Do not overbake – Be careful not to overbake the cookies. They will continue to bake as they cool on the baking sheets. Once cooled, these cookies will have a delightful, soft texture, but overbaking by even a few minutes can make them dry.
- Room-temperature ingredients – Before beginning, soften the cream cheese and butter to room temperature. This ensures they mix smoothly and create the right dough consistency.
- Full-fat, brick-style cream cheese – For the best results, use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Avoid using whipped cream cheese in tubs, as it will make the dough too sticky and will not give the cookies the correct consistency.
- Consistent cookie size – Use a cookie scoop or measuring spoon to scoop the dough. This ensures the cookies are the same size, which helps them bake evenly and maintain a consistent appearance.
- Chill the Kisses – Place the kisses in the refrigerator while you chill the dough and keep them there until you need to put them on the cookies. This helps the kisses keep their shape and avoid melting when placed on the hot cookies.
- Cool on baking sheet – Once you have added the Kisses to the cookies, do not move the tray until they have cooled completely. This ensures the kisses stay in their form. The kisses become very soft when placed on the hot cookies, and any slight movement can cause them to become misshapen.
How to store the cookies
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
The cookies can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying them.
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Check out these delicious recipes.
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Strawberry Kiss Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box of strawberry cake mix
- 2/3 cup pink sanding sugar
- 36 strawberry ice cream cone kisses unwrapped
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese, butter, and egg in a large bowl with a hand or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in the cake mix until combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
- Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the cookie dough into 1 tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each dough ball in sanding sugar and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 ½ inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies have set.
- Once you remove the cookies from the oven, immediately press one kiss gently on the top of each cookie.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before moving the cookies.
Notes
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- The cookies can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying them.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.