Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies Recipe

If you’re looking for the ultimate treat that captures the essence of strawberry season in every bite, these Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies are your ticket to sweet, fruity bliss. Imagine pillowy-soft cookies bursting with berry flavor, nestled around a dreamy almond buttercream—so simple yet delightfully nostalgic. Whether you’re baking for a picnic, a birthday, or just a midweek pick-me-up, this recipe brings together ease, vibrant flavors, and a little sparkle, making each cookie a bite-sized celebration!

Ingredients You’ll Need

There’s beauty in simplicity, and each of these ingredients for Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies has a special role to play. From the lush pink hues of the cake mix to the richness of buttercream, every element is essential for that perfect taste and texture.

• Strawberry Cake Mix: The secret shortcut to a vibrant pink color and fresh-off-the-vine strawberry flavor—Duncan Hines is foolproof here!
• Eggs (2 large): Provide structure and softness for tender cookies that hold their shape but still melt in your mouth.
• Vegetable Oil (1/3 cup): Gives the cookies their characteristic chew and ensures they stay moist even after assembly.
• Sanding Sugar (1 1/2 cups): Rolling each dough ball in this sparkly sugar yields a crunchy, beautiful crust on every cookie.
• Unsalted Butter (2 sticks/1 cup): The core of a luscious, silky buttercream—room temperature is best for proper creaming.
• Salt (pinch): Just a hint sharpens the sweetness and brings out the best in the other flavors.
• Vanilla Extract (2 teaspoons): Boosts both strawberry and almond notes, adding warmth and complexity.
• Almond Extract (1/2 teaspoon): Offers a subtle, irresistible marzipan note in the buttercream—don’t skip it!
• Heavy Cream (1/8 cup): Adds lightness and a creamy mouthfeel to the frosting, making it beautifully spreadable.
• Powdered Sugar (6 cups): Essential for a smooth, pipeable frosting that holds its shape in each sandwich.

How to Make Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Sheet

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper—this is key not only for easy cleanup but also for helping your Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies bake evenly. Set it aside so it’s ready for your bright pink cookie dough balls!

Step 2: Mix Up the Cookie Dough

Grab your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Combine the strawberry cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Mix on medium speed until just blended—don’t overmix, as a gentle hand keeps these cookies soft and tender. The dough will be thick and fragrant, almost like strawberry fudge!

Step 3: Shape and Sugar the Cookies

Pour your sanding sugar onto a plate. Use a 1-inch cookie scoop to portion out your dough, then roll each portion into a ball. Gently roll the balls in sanding sugar until sparkling all over and place them onto your prepared cookie sheet, leaving about three inches in between so the cookies have space to spread and rise.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Bake your cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, watching for edges that are just set while the centers remain soft. Once out, let them rest briefly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely—this is crucial for sandwich assembly later, as warm cookies could melt your buttercream filling.

Step 5: Whip Up Almond Buttercream

While the cookies cool, make your small batch almond buttercream. In a stand mixer, beat the unsalted butter until it turns light and fluffy. Add the salt, vanilla, almond extract, and heavy cream, then mix briefly. Gradually incorporate the powdered sugar, mixing slowly at first to avoid a sugar cloud, then whip on high for around 2 minutes. The result should be impossibly light, fluffy, and perfectly pipeable. If needed, add more heavy cream a teaspoon at a time to achieve your desired consistency.

Step 6: Assemble Your Sandwiches

Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a round tip (or simply snip the end off a disposable bag). Pipe a generous swirl of buttercream onto the flat underside of half your cookies, then gently sandwich with the remaining cookies. Press lightly—just enough to spread the filling to the edges—then marvel at your Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies!

How to Serve Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies

Garnishes

For an extra pop of pizzazz, try rolling the edges of your freshly assembled cookies in more sanding sugar or a mixture of pastel sprinkles. A sprinkle of freeze-dried strawberry powder is fantastic for amping up the berry notes and makes for a bakery-worthy finish.

Side Dishes

Nothing says strawberry season like pairing these sandwich cookies with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream or a side of fresh, sliced strawberries. For an elegant afternoon tea, serve alongside a cold glass of lemonade or strawberry milk for a playful, colorful treat.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange your Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies on a vintage cake stand for a retro dessert table, or wrap each cookie in waxed paper and tie with ribbon for a party favor. Stack them in a clear glass jar for a stunning gift—who could resist such a sweet surprise?

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Your cookies will stay fresh and lovely for up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The buttercream filling keeps them moist and tender, so they’ll taste just as dreamy days later. For best texture, let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Freezing

Both the cookies and assembled sandwiches freeze well! Place finished cookies on a tray to freeze solid, then store in zip-top bags or airtight containers for up to three months. If freezing unfilled cookies, stack them with parchment between layers. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before assembling or enjoying.

Reheating

If you want your cookies slightly warm (and who could blame you?), microwave unfilled cookies for just 5-10 seconds. For sandwiches, let them come to room temperature naturally, as reheating filled cookies can melt the buttercream and change the texture.

FAQs

Can I use a different cake mix flavor for this recipe?

Absolutely! While Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies are all about that berry bliss, you can swap in lemon, vanilla, or even chocolate cake mix for a fun twist on both flavor and color. Just keep the ingredient ratios the same.

Do I really need to use sanding sugar?

Sanding sugar gives these cookies their signature sparkle and adds a slight crunch, but if you don’t have any, feel free to use regular granulated sugar. Just note that the finished cookie will look a little less “glam” but still taste divine.

What’s the best way to pipe the buttercream if I don’t have a piping bag?

No worries! You can go old-school and use a resealable plastic bag with a snipped corner. Simply spoon in your frosting, seal, and pipe away—a perfect buttercream swirl on every Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookie!

Is there a dairy-free way to make these cookies?

Yes! Substitute the butter in the frosting with a quality dairy-free butter alternative and use your preferred non-dairy cream for the buttercream. The cookies themselves are dairy-free, so you’re already halfway there.

Can I make the cookies smaller or larger?

Of course! Using a smaller scoop will yield darling bite-sized Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies (just adjust baking time to a minute or so less). Larger scoops mean thicker, more decadent sandwiches—just bake them a few minutes longer and watch the edges closely.

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving a fun, nostalgic treat that’s bursting with berry flavor and shimmering with charm, you owe it to yourself to bake a batch of Soft Strawberry Cake Mix Sandwich Cookies. They’re a total crowd-pleaser and an instant mood booster—so gather your ingredients and let the strawberry magic begin!

Print