Inspired by a favorite summertime drink, these Easy Strawberry Lemonade Cookies start with a box of lemon cake mix & are topped with a fresh strawberry buttercream...
Post updated 7/20/17- This tasty Easy Strawberry Lemonade Cookies post deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)
Original photo from my 2013 post
It seems as if we have been attending a family reunion almost every weekend the past month. Of course, every new family reunion is another opportunity for me to bake up a tasty treat for my relatives. Those of you who have been following me on my Instagram have already had a sneak peek of these Easy Strawberry Lemonade Cookies and one other little sweet goodie I baked up a couple of weeks ago. It pays to give me a follow on Instagram. ;)
These cookies are incredibly easy to make. Even the from-scratch fresh strawberry buttercream doesn't require too much effort. The addition of the lemon juice and lemon zest to the cake mix cookie batter gives it a delicious freshness- like drinking a tart glass of fresh lemonade.
Easy Strawberry Lemonade Cookies
by
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients (12-15 cookies)
For the lemonade cookies
- 1 box of lemon cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- Juice & zest from half a lemon
For the strawberry buttercream
- 2/3 cup strawberries, chopped and then pureed with the juice of half a lemon
- 3/4 cups butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside
In a large bowl, mix together the lemon cake mix, eggs, oil, & lemon juice & zest. Refrigerate the dough for at least 20 minutes.
Add your pureed strawberry/lemon juice mixture to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Once it has thickened slightly, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely.
Pull out your refrigerated cookie dough and roll by generous tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Using lightly floured hands will keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges of the cookies are slightly golden brown.
As soon as you take the cookies out of the oven, flatten the tops of each cookie by pressing the bottom of a glass or measuring cup into each cookie. This will create a nice flat surface for frosting the cookies once they have cooled.
Repeat this will the remaining dough.
Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
While the cookies are cooling, prepare the fresh strawberry buttercream.
Beat together the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth & creamy- about 3-4 minutes. Now beat in the cooled strawberry puree.
Fill an icing bag with the strawberry buttercream and using the frosting tip of your choice, top each lemonade cookie with a pretty strawberry buttercream swirl.
Enjoy!
Powered by Recipage
What is one of your go-to recipes/dishes for those summer family gatherings and family reunions?
Want more lemony goodness in your life? Then you might also like my...
Have a mean sweet tooth? Satisfy it daily by joining the Desserts First recipe group on Facebook! :)
