Strawberry Almond Creme Cookies

This recipe kind of just happened. I had something totally different in mind than what actually came about, but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

These cookies are light (in texture, not calories, sorry) & sweet. I don’t usually like a cookie sandwich/whoopie pie, but these were wonderful. The almond extract is subtle, yet distinct & pairs really well with the strawberry flavor. Wonderful to put a homemade wrapper/tag on & gift for Valentine’s Day. (Keep refrigerated though!)

Strawberry Almond Creme Cookies
Strawberry Almond Creme Cookies

Strawberry Almond Creme Cookies

5 from 2 ratings

Ingredients

Cookie:

  • 15.25 oz (432 g) box Pillsbury White Cake Mix
  • 2 Tbsp (118 ml) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (118 ml) canola oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 Tbsp pureed whole strawberries, (no sugar added)
  • 8 + drops red food coloring, to desired color

Filling:

  • 8 oz (226 g) pkg Neufchatel Cream Cheese, room temperature
  • ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp pureed whole strawberries, (no sugar added)
  • 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp pure almond extract

Instructions
 

  • In a stand mixer, combine cake mix, flour, oil, eggs, strawberry puree, & food coloring. Scoop 1-inch size balls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350˚F for 10 min.
  • Using a hand mixer & medium bowl whip cream cheese with butter. Add strawberry puree just until combined. Scrape bowl. Add 2 cups powdered sugar all at once, & blend until just combined. Set aside.
  • In a stand mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat heavy cream for a minute or so on high speed until it starts to get fluffy. Add ¼ cup of powdered sugar gradually. Add almond extract & turn machine off once stiff peaks have been achieved.
  • Add cream cheese mixture half at a time to the whipped cream (still in the stand mixer with the whisk attachment) & whisk until combined. Repeat for last half of the mixture. Do one final whisking until the mixture is light & fluffy, but has nice stiff peaks (you will be able to see the whisk leaving marks in the filling as it whisks around & around) then turn of the machine.
  • Using a star tip, pipe the filling into cooled, baked cookies. KEEP REFRIGERATED!

Notes