If you’re searching for the ultimate dessert shortcut, these Easy 5-Ingredient Strawberry Crinkle Cookies will be your new best friend. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time, you get irresistibly soft, chewy cookies with a bright pop of strawberry flavor, finished in classic white crinkles. Whether you want to impress guests at a shower, bake something pink and pretty for Valentine’s Day, or just whip up a sweet treat on a whim, this Print Recipe
Pin ensures delicious results every time — and yes, it’s as simple as it looks!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe features a beautifully short ingredients list, proving that simple can mean spectacular. Each item here pulls its weight, bringing you the irresistible look and taste of these classic cookies.
- Strawberry Cake Mix (1 box, 15.25 oz): The secret to beautiful pink color and bold strawberry flavor in every bite—skip extra flavorings, the mix does the heavy lifting!
- Unsalted Butter (6 Tbsp, melted): Gives the cookies their signature rich chew and a delicious, tender crumb—just melt and cool slightly for easy mixing.
- Eggs (2 large): Help bind the dough and give the finished cookies their perfect lift and cakey center.
- Lemon Juice (2 Tbsp): Adds a fresh burst that wakes up the strawberry flavor and brings balance—don’t leave it out!
- Powdered Sugar (½ cup, for rolling): Creates those crave-worthy white crinkles on the outside; roll generously for maximum effect.
How to Make Print Recipe
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Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Preheat
Begin by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This little step guarantees nothing sticks and cleanup takes just seconds—which is always a win during a busy baking day.
Step 2: Mix Everything Together
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and lemon juice. Stir with a spatula or spoon until every bit of cake mix is hydrated and you have a thick, unified dough. You’ll notice the gorgeous pink color coming together quickly!
Step 3: Shape and Coat in Sugar
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough into 1.5–2 tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each dough ball in powdered sugar until absolutely covered—don’t be shy! The sugar is what gives these Print Recipe
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Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Arrange your sugared dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart so they have room to spread. Bake for 11 minutes, just until the edges are set and the distinctive cracks have formed in the powdered sugar surface. The centers will look soft—don’t overbake!
Step 5: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet. This lets the centers finish setting and ensures your Print Recipe
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How to Serve Print Recipe
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Garnishes
For a showstopping finish, sprinkle a touch of extra powdered sugar over the cooled cookies just before serving. If you’re feeling fancy, a sliver of fresh strawberry or a zest of lemon adds a bright and beautiful touch that complements every bite.
Side Dishes
These crinkle cookies shine with a glass of cold milk, or alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic strawberries-and-cream mashup. Try pairing with coffee or tea for a delightful afternoon snack—the sweet tanginess marries beautifully with most brews.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack your Print Recipe
Pin cookies into bakery-style bundles tied with ribbon for gifting, or display on a tiered dessert stand for parties. For a dazzling dessert board, nestle them among fresh berries, chocolate truffles, or even champagne flutes for an eye-catching centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your cookies soft and flavorful, let them cool completely before sealing in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh at room temperature for up to 4 days—if you can make them last that long!
Freezing
Want to bake ahead? Freeze the shaped, sugared dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag once solid. Bake straight from frozen, adding an extra minute or two. You can also freeze finished cookies and thaw at room temp when cravings hit—this Print Recipe
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Reheating
If your cookies lose their fresh-from-the-oven softness, simply pop them in a microwave for 7–10 seconds. Warm cookies are an absolute treat, especially paired with cold milk or ice cream!
FAQs
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Absolutely! While this recipe was created for strawberry-lovers, you can swap in any similarly sized box of cake mix to create lemon, chocolate, or funfetti variations with the same soft, chewy texture.
Do I really have to use lemon juice?
You don’t have to, but I highly recommend it—the acidity brightens up the strawberry flavor and keeps the cookies from tasting overly sweet. Even bottled lemon juice works in a pinch!
Why did my cookies stay puffy instead of crinkling?
This can happen if the dough balls are too big or not rolled thickly enough in powdered sugar. Also, make sure your oven is fully preheated and don’t overbake; the cracks form best with a slightly underbaked, soft center.
Can I make these gluten free?
If you can find a gluten-free strawberry cake mix, everything else in the recipe should work as written—just be sure to check labels if you have a sensitivity or allergy.
What’s the best way to keep these cookies soft?
Store them in a tightly sealed container at room temperature with a slice of bread or apple inside—the extra moisture helps keep your Print Recipe
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Final Thoughts
Strawberry crinkle cookies don’t get any easier—or tastier—than this, and with just one bowl and five ingredients, you’ll find yourself reaching for the Print Recipe
Pin over and over again. Give this sweet shortcut a try, and share a batch of pink, sugar-dusted happiness with your friends and family!
Easy 5-Ingredient Strawberry Crinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Easy 5-Ingredient Strawberry Crinkle Cookies are a delightful dessert made with strawberry cake mix, butter, eggs, and a hint of lemon juice. They are soft, chewy, and full of strawberry flavor, perfect for a quick and pretty treat for occasions like Valentine’s Day or baby showers.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 box (15.25 oz) Strawberry Cake Mix
- 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice (fresh or bottled)
- ½ cup Powdered Sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix ingredients: In a bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and lemon juice into a thick dough.
- Form dough balls: Scoop dough into balls, roll in powdered sugar, and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 11 minutes until edges are set and cracks appear on the surface.
- Cool and store: Let cookies cool on the sheet and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
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