These Strawberry Banana Pudding Cookies are a delightful twist on classic cookies, combining the sweet flavors of strawberry and banana with rich chocolate chips. Trust me, these soft, chewy treats will disappear from your cookie jar faster than you can say “dessert!” Perfect for spring gatherings, summer picnics, or whenever you need a fruity, chocolatey pick-me-up.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unique Flavor Combo: The strawberry-banana pairing creates a fruity explosion that’s absolutely irresistible.
- Soft and Chewy: The pudding mix gives these cookies the most amazing tender texture you’ll dream about.
- Quick and Easy: Whip these up in no time for last-minute gatherings or when that cookie craving hits.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Watch these disappear at parties, the vibrant color and flavor combo is a total showstopper.
Ingredients
- Butter: Creates a rich, tender base for our cookies.
- Sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps create those perfect crispy edges.
- Cherry Lemonade Jello Mix: Our secret ingredient that adds strawberry flavor and a gorgeous pink hue.
- Egg: Binds everything together and adds structure.
- Vanilla: Enhances all the flavors and adds warmth.
- Banana Cream Pie Pudding Mix: Brings that creamy banana flavor and creates an incredibly soft texture.
- Flour: The foundation of our cookies, providing structure.
- Baking Soda: Helps our cookies rise and get that perfect texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all flavors.
- Chocolate Chips: Little pockets of melty chocolate goodness in every bite.
Note: The exact measurements for these ingredients can be found in the recipe card below the article.
How to Make the Strawberry Banana Pudding Cookies
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This is going to be so good, I can already smell the fruity aroma that’s about to fill your kitchen!
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes, don’t rush this step, it’s what gives your cookies that perfect texture!
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the Cherry Lemonade jello mix until well combined. Add the egg and vanilla, beating until the mixture is smooth and the color is evenly distributed. It’ll turn the most gorgeous shade of pink!
Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients
Add the banana cream pie pudding mix, flour, baking soda, and salt to your bowl. Mix until just combined, overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies!
Step 5: Fold in Chocolate Chips
Gently fold in those chocolate chips. I sometimes hold back a handful to press into the tops of the cookies before baking, it makes them look absolutely irresistible.
Step 6: Scoop and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly underdone.
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool enough to eat!
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature for the best texture.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies are best when slightly underbaked, they’ll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet.
- Cookie Scoop: Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies that bake evenly.
- Mix It Up: Feel free to swap the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips or even strawberry baking chips for an extra fruity punch.
How to Serve
These fruity, chocolatey cookies are perfect on their own, but here are some fun serving ideas:
- Sandwich vanilla ice cream between two cookies for the ultimate summer treat.
- Serve alongside a cold glass of milk for classic cookie enjoyment.
- Package in cute cellophane bags tied with ribbon for a homemade gift that’ll make anyone’s day.
- Crumble over banana pudding for a meta dessert experience that’ll blow minds.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread in the container to keep them soft and chewy.
Freezing
The dough freezes beautifully! Roll into balls, freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. You can also freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Reheating
Pop frozen cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds for that fresh-baked taste, or bake frozen dough balls for an extra 1-2 minutes beyond the regular baking time.
FAQs
Can I use regular strawberry Jello instead of Cherry Lemonade?
Absolutely! Regular strawberry Jello works perfectly in this recipe. The flavor will be slightly different but equally delicious. You could even try other flavors like raspberry or cherry for fun variations.
What if I can’t find banana cream pudding mix?
Vanilla pudding mix makes a great substitute, though you’ll lose some of the banana flavor. You could add 1/2 teaspoon of banana extract to maintain that fruity profile.
Can I make these cookies without chocolate chips?
Definitely! These cookies are delicious even without the chocolate chips. You could substitute white chocolate chips, dried strawberries, or even chopped nuts for a different twist.
Why did my cookies spread too much?
If your cookies spread too much, your butter might have been too warm or you might need a bit more flour. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent excessive spreading.
These Strawberry Banana Pudding Cookies are more than just a treat, they’re a little moment of joy in cookie form! The fruity combo of strawberry and banana paired with melty chocolate chips creates something truly special that’ll have everyone asking for your secret. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just because it’s Tuesday, these colorful, soft-baked beauties are guaranteed to brighten anyone’s day. So go ahead, whip up a batch and watch them disappear, just be prepared to share the recipe!
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try our savory Cottage Cheese Flatbread as the perfect base for these cookies, or serve them alongside Smoky Cheesy Jalapeño Chicken Rolls for a sweet-savory combo. For another crowd-pleasing treat, don’t miss our Ooey Gooey Bacon Ranch Pizza Rolls!
Strawberry Banana Pudding Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp Cherry Lemonade jello mix
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 package banana cream pie pudding mix
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 bag chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the softened butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add in the Cherry Lemonade jello mix, egg, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Stir in the banana cream pudding mix, flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until a dough forms.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool on wire racks.
