Strawberry Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

Make soft strawberry cake mix whoopie pies with creamy homemade buttercream! An easy, pretty pink dessert for Valentine's Day, baby showers, and parties.

If you're looking for a sweet, pretty dessert that's perfect for Valentine's Day, baby showers, bridal showers, or birthday parties, you're going to love these soft strawberry cake mix whoopie pies! They start with a simple box of strawberry cake mix and are filled with the dreamiest homemade cream cheese buttercream.

And when I say dreamy, I mean dreamy!

These little pink sandwich cakes are soft, tender, and slightly springy, with a generous layer of creamy frosting tucked between them. You can leave them plain or dress them up with white pearl sprinkles or sparkling sanding sugar for a special occasion.

I've made all sorts of whoopie pies over the years, but somehow I'd never gotten around to making strawberry. Looking back, I'm wondering what took me so long!

As it turns out, today was the perfect day to remedy that situation.

Strawberry Whoopie Pies for Homecoming

Today is homecoming at our local high school, and my daughter is coming over to pick up a batch of these strawberry whoopie pies for a group of girls gathering before the big game.

You know how that goes. Pretty dresses, lots of excitement, photographs, laughter, and everybody getting ready for a memorable evening.

I wanted to send something sweet along with her, and these pretty pink whoopie pies seemed just right.

The funny thing is, I hadn't planned to make them at all.

Earlier this week, I baked a wedding cake and ended up with leftover buttercream. And not just any buttercream! This was my special homemade frosting, made with equal parts butter, shortening, and cream cheese, along with powdered sugar and vanilla.

I had plenty left over, and I certainly didn't want it to go to waste.

Then I remembered the box of Dolly Parton strawberry cake mix sitting in my pantry.

Well, you know me. Give me a boxed cake mix and a little inspiration, and there's no telling what might happen!

Before long, I had a tray of beautiful pink cookies cooling on the counter and a piping bag filled with buttercream.

And just like that, these strawberry whoopie pies were born.

Sometimes the best recipes happen when you're simply trying to use what you already have on hand.

What Are Strawberry Whoopie Pies?

Traditional whoopie pies consist of two soft, cake-like rounds sandwiched together with a sweet, creamy filling. They're similar to sandwich cookies, but the texture is usually softer and more tender.

I've made plenty of cake-mix sandwich cookies over the years, and I even wrote a complete tutorial explaining how to turn a boxed cake mix into whoopie pies and easy sandwich cookies.

For this strawberry version, I wanted something a little softer and springier than my usual cake-mix cookies. I wanted them to hold their shape but still have that tender, cake-like bite that makes a whoopie pie so special.

The finished cookies baked up beautifully, with gently rounded tops, a few natural cracks, and the prettiest strawberry-pink color.

And once I added the buttercream? Oh, my goodness!

Why You'll Love These Strawberry Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

First of all, they're incredibly easy to make. You don't need to start from scratch or spend hours measuring ingredients. A boxed strawberry cake mix provides the flavor, color, and foundation for these soft little sandwich cakes.

They're also wonderfully versatile. You can fill them with vanilla buttercream, cream cheese frosting, lemon buttercream, or even a fluffy cream cheese mousse.

And let's talk about that color! Strawberry cake mix produces such a cheerful shade of pink, making these perfect for occasions when you want something especially pretty.

But it's not just about the color. Strawberry has a sweet, fruity flavor that pairs beautifully with vanilla, cream cheese, lemon, and chocolate.

These are the sort of treats I'd happily serve at a baby shower, bridal shower, ladies' luncheon, Valentine's Day party, or children's birthday celebration.

Or, as it happens, homecoming!

Ingredients for Strawberry Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here's a quick look at what you'll need.

For the Strawberry Whoopie Pie Shells

• 1 box strawberry cake mix (I used Dolly Parton's)
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons milk

That's it! Just four ingredients for the strawberry shells.

I used Dolly Parton's strawberry cake mix because that's what I had in the pantry, but you can experiment with other brands. Just remember that boxed cake mixes vary slightly in size and formulation, so the dough consistency may differ.

For My Dreamy Cream Cheese Buttercream

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup vegetable shortening
• ½ cup full-fat cream cheese, softened (about 4 ounces)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1–2 teaspoons heavy cream, only if needed

This frosting is a little different from traditional cream cheese frosting because it contains equal parts butter, shortening, and cream cheese.

The butter brings rich flavor, the shortening helps provide structure, and the cream cheese adds a lovely tanginess that balances the sweetness.

It's one of my favorite frostings for decorating cakes, but it's also wonderful as a filling for sandwich cookies and whoopie pies.

You may have a little frosting left over, depending on how generously you fill your cookies.

Optional Decorations

• Tiny white pearl sprinkles
• White sanding sugar
• Valentine's Day sprinkles
• Other decorations of your choice

I used white decorations because I wanted the pink strawberry shells to remain the star of the show.

How to Make Strawberry Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Sheets

These come together quickly, and the process couldn't be much easier.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.

Step 2: Make the Strawberry Dough

Place the strawberry cake mix in a large mixing bowl.

Add the eggs, melted butter, and milk. Mix until everything is thoroughly combined and you have a thick, scoopable dough.

The dough should be softer than traditional cookie dough but thick enough to hold its shape when placed on the baking sheet.

Step 3: Scoop the Cookies

Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Try to make the scoops as uniform as possible. This will make it much easier to match the cookies into pairs when it's time to fill them.

Leave about two inches between the mounds to allow for spreading.

Step 4: Bake

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 9–12 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies.

The tops should look set and spring back gently when touched.

Don't overbake! We're looking for a soft, tender, cake-like texture, not a crunchy cookie.

Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Make the Dreamy Buttercream

While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting.

Place the softened butter and shortening in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy and smooth.

Add the softened cream cheese and continue beating until incorporated.

Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed at first so you don't end up with a powdered sugar cloud floating around your kitchen!

Add the vanilla extract and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

If the frosting seems too thick for piping, add a tiny splash of heavy cream. You probably won't need much.

If it's too soft, refrigerate it briefly before filling the whoopie pies.

Step 6: Assemble the Whoopie Pies

Once the strawberry shells have cooled completely, match them into pairs of approximately the same size.

Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large round or star tip.

Pipe a generous swirl of frosting onto the flat side of one cookie, then gently press a second cookie on top.

You want the frosting to reach the edges without squeezing out excessively.

Continue until all of the cookies have been filled.

Step 7: Decorate, If Desired

Now comes the fun part! Pour a small amount of white pearl sprinkles or sanding sugar into a shallow dish.

Gently roll the exposed buttercream edges of a few assembled whoopie pies through the decorations.

The white pearls create a particularly pretty contrast against the strawberry-pink cookies, while the sanding sugar gives them a more delicate, sparkling appearance.

I recommend leaving some plain and decorating others. A platter with several different finishes looks especially charming.

And there you have it! Beautiful homemade strawberry whoopie pies, ready for sharing.

Fun Filling Variations for Strawberry Whoopie Pies

One of the best things about these strawberry whoopie pies is how easy they are to customize.

I used my Dreamy Cream Cheese Buttercream, but you can certainly experiment with other fillings.

Classic Cream Cheese Frosting: If you love the tangy flavor of cream cheese, try a traditional frosting made with softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. This version will be a little softer than my usual buttercream, so keep the assembled whoopie pies refrigerated.

Lemon Buttercream: Strawberry and lemon are a match made in heaven! Add finely grated lemon zest to your favorite vanilla buttercream, along with a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon juice if you'd like a little extra tang. The bright citrus flavor balances the sweetness of the strawberry shells beautifully.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting: For something especially delicious, add fresh lemon zest to a classic cream cheese frosting. You'll get a creamy, tangy filling with a burst of citrus flavor. This would be wonderful for a spring luncheon or bridal shower.

Cream Cheese Mousse: Want something lighter and fluffier? Fold freshly whipped, sweetened heavy cream into a sweetened cream cheese mixture for a soft, mousse-like filling. This creates a lovely strawberry-and-cream combination. Because mousse is softer and more perishable than buttercream, assemble these shortly before serving and keep them refrigerated.

White Chocolate Buttercream: Strawberry and white chocolate are another wonderful pairing. Use a white chocolate buttercream for a rich, sweet filling that's especially nice for Valentine's Day.

Chocolate Buttercream: If you love chocolate-covered strawberries, try filling these pink cakes with chocolate buttercream. You could even roll the exposed frosting edges in miniature chocolate chips.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting: For double the strawberry goodness, add a little finely ground freeze-dried strawberry powder to your cream cheese frosting. This intensifies the berry flavor without adding excess moisture.

And don't forget the decorations! White pearls, sanding sugar, colorful sprinkles, and tiny candy hearts can completely change the appearance of these little cakes.

Decorating Strawberry Whoopie Pies for Special Occasions

I think these whoopie pies are especially fun because they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

For a baby shower, I'd use white pearl sprinkles around the buttercream edges. The combination of pink shells and tiny white pearls is absolutely charming.

For a bridal shower, I'd keep the decorations simple and elegant. White sanding sugar or delicate pearl sprinkles would be lovely.

For Valentine's Day, you could use red, pink, and white sprinkles or tiny candy hearts. A little white chocolate drizzle would also be beautiful.

For a children's birthday party, colorful sprinkles would make these extra festive.

And for homecoming? Well, I think the plain pink cookies with white buttercream and a few pretty decorations are just about perfect.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Whoopie Pies

Use a cookie scoop. Evenly sized cookies are much easier to pair when you're assembling the sandwiches.

Don't overbake. These should be soft and tender. Remove them from the oven when the tops are set and spring back gently.

Cool completely before filling. Warm cookies will soften the buttercream and make assembly difficult.

Use softened frosting ingredients. Butter and cream cheese blend more smoothly when they're softened to a similar temperature.

Don't add too much cream. You want the buttercream to be soft enough to pipe but firm enough to hold the cookies together.

Decorate only the exposed filling. I like leaving the tops plain so that beautiful strawberry color can shine.

Chill before transporting. If you're taking these to a party, a brief stay in the refrigerator will help the filling firm up and keep the sandwiches together.

How to Store Strawberry Whoopie Pies

Because these whoopie pies contain cream cheese in the filling, they should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For the best quality, enjoy them within three to four days.

If you're stacking them, place parchment paper between the layers to protect the frosting and decorations.

You can let them sit at room temperature briefly before serving so the filling softens slightly, but don't leave them unrefrigerated for more than two hours, or one hour in temperatures above 90°F.

You can also freeze the unfilled strawberry shells for up to two months in a well-sealed freezer container. Place parchment between layers and thaw completely before filling.

More Whoopie Pies and Sandwich Cookies to Try

If you love these strawberry whoopie pies, you're in luck! I've been experimenting with sandwich cookies and whoopie pies for years, and there are so many delicious flavor combinations to explore.

Start with my How to Turn a Boxed Cake Mix into Whoopie Pies and Easy Sandwich Cookies tutorial. It's packed with ideas for turning ordinary cake mixes into soft, sweet sandwich treats.

You'll also want to explore some of my other whoopie pie and sandwich cookie flavors:

• Gingerbread Whoopie Pies: Soft, warmly spiced cookies with a creamy filling. Perfect for Christmas and other cozy gatherings.
• Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies: Rich red velvet flavor with a sweet, creamy center.
• German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies: A fun handheld twist on a classic chocolate-and-coconut dessert.
• Lemon Cakesters: Bright lemon flavor in a soft sandwich cookie that's especially nice for spring and summer.
• Oreo Sandwich Cookies: A homemade take on a familiar chocolate-and-cream combination.
• Candy Cane Whoopie Pies: A festive peppermint-inspired treat for Christmas cookie trays.
• Oatmeal Cream Pies: Soft oatmeal cookies with a sweet, creamy filling. A nostalgic favorite!

Once you've mastered the basic technique, the possibilities are practically endless.

More Strawberry Desserts from Out of the Box Baking

If you've got another box of strawberry cake mix in the pantry, don't stop with whoopie pies!

My Strawberry Fluffies (Strawberry Crinkle Cookies) are soft, sweet cookies made with strawberry cake mix and whipped topping. They're incredibly easy and perfect for parties.

You'll also love my Dolly Parton Strawberry Pound Cake, a beautiful dessert that's perfect for special gatherings.

And if you're looking for even more fruity inspiration, be sure to visit my Best Strawberry Desserts: Easy Recipes for Every Occasion collection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

Can I make whoopie pies from strawberry cake mix?

Absolutely! Boxed strawberry cake mix makes a wonderful foundation for soft, cake-like sandwich cookies. By adjusting the amount of eggs, butter, and liquid, you can create a thick dough that bakes into tender little rounds.

Can I use a different brand of strawberry cake mix?

Yes! I used Dolly Parton's strawberry cake mix, but you can experiment with other brands. Because cake mixes vary in size and formulation, you may need to make small adjustments to the dough consistency.

Can I use canned frosting for the filling?

You can, although homemade buttercream generally provides a firmer, fluffier filling. If your canned frosting seems too soft, refrigerate it briefly before assembling the cookies.

Can I use regular cream cheese frosting?

Definitely! A traditional cream cheese frosting would be delicious with these strawberry shells. Just remember that it may be softer than the buttercream I used, so refrigerate the assembled whoopie pies.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes! You can bake the strawberry shells a day ahead and store them in an airtight container once they're completely cool. Prepare the frosting and assemble the whoopie pies when you're ready, then refrigerate them until serving.

Can I freeze strawberry whoopie pies?

I recommend freezing the unfilled shells and adding the frosting after thawing. This gives you the best control over the texture and appearance of the finished dessert.

Are strawberry whoopie pies good for Valentine's Day?

They're practically made for it! The pretty pink color and sweet strawberry flavor make these wonderful for Valentine's Day parties, homemade gifts, and dessert trays. Add festive sprinkles or a white chocolate drizzle to dress them up.

What's the difference between whoopie pies and sandwich cookies?

Whoopie pies are generally softer and more cake-like, while sandwich cookies may be chewy or crisp. These strawberry whoopie pies fall on the softer side, with a tender crumb and creamy filling.

Thanks for Stopping By!

I hope you enjoy these soft strawberry cake mix whoopie pies as much as I enjoyed making them.

There's something so satisfying about taking a simple box of cake mix and turning it into something that looks special enough for a celebration.

And I especially love the story behind this batch. Leftover buttercream from a wedding cake, a box of strawberry cake mix waiting in the pantry, and a group of girls dressed up for homecoming.

I love knowing that these little pink treats will be part of their special evening.

Sometimes the sweetest recipes are the ones that find their way into the middle of everyday life.

Happy baking, friends! 🍓

If you make these whoopie pies and enjoy them please leave a comment or review. And before you go, please pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

Janice Thompson is a professional baker, cake designer, and author with over 20 years of experience creating unique cakes and desserts. She’s the creator of Out of the Box Baking, where she shares her favorite doctored cake mix recipes, tutorials, and baking tips. Learn more →