In past years I have made pie for Luke for Valentine’s which I will still do, and other goodies but not cookies. This weekend we have house guest (Luke’s brother and family) and I have students who I want to introduce to the American idea of Valentines day. So this year I tried out some new cookie recipes for Valentine Cookies.

I made adjustments to my funfetti cheesecake cookies in order to make a new strawberry cheesecake cookie. This are easy-to-make dump and bake recipe taste like fresh strawberry cake with a extra surprise of cheesecake as you finish it off. Plus they have a great traditional pink valentines color and flavor.

Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients

Makes about 32 cookies

• 1 box strawberry cake mix
• 1 small box instant cheesecake pudding mix
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
• 1/2 cup white baking chips, divided

Instructions

-Preheat oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, vegetable oil spray, or a SilPat.

-In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla until dough forms.

-Stir in 1/2 cup of the white chocolate chips.

-Using a cookie scoop, drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets 2 inches apart.

-Using the remaining 1/4 cup white chips, press a few chips onto the tops of each cookie or extra sprinkles

Note: depending on what color you want the cookies you can add a little red/pink food coloring to the mix because the strawberry color fades with the baking.

-Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies just start to crack on the top.

The centers will still be very soft – that’s okay!

Cool for 2-3 minutes, then remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

I stuck these cookies in the freezer right away because I know that when I dole then out I’m sure they won’t last long.