Chewy Strawberry Cookies Recipe with Fresh Strawberries

Strawberry Cookies Made with Just 3 Ingredients — Big Flavor, Lower Calories

These strawberry cookies are easy, delicious, and surprisingly low in calories compared with traditional recipes. They’re made with angel food cake mix, sugar-free strawberry preserves, and mini chocolate chips — just three simple ingredients that deliver a bright strawberry flavor and a tender, slightly chewy texture.

When I first tried these, I couldn’t believe each cookie is estimated at only 3 points on the Weight Watchers Purple plan. They’re ideal as a lighter dessert, a Valentine’s Day treat, or anytime you want something sweet without a lot of fat.

I developed this recipe looking for a homemade alternative to chocolate candy for Valentine’s Day, and the pink cookies topped with red jam looked too pretty to resist. They’re soft and chewy in the center with slightly crisp edges, and the strawberry preserves infuse them with real fruit flavor.

Diet-Friendly Strawberry Cookies

If you’re watching calories or trying to reduce fat but still crave sweets, these cookies are a great option. Because angel food cake mix contains no added fat or oil and relies on egg whites for structure, it keeps the calorie count lower than many cookie bases. The result is a light, tender cookie that satisfies a sweet tooth without packing in extra fat.

Why These Cookies Are Lighter

Angel food cake mix is the key to the lighter profile. It contains no fat and uses egg whites, which help the cookies stay airy yet slightly chewy. Using sugar-free strawberry preserves further reduces added sugar. Together, those choices create a dessert that feels indulgent but remains diet-friendly.

Ingredients — Only 3

• Angel food cake mix (one 1 lb box — use the entire box; do not add water)
• 3/4 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves
• 3 tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

How to Make Strawberry Cookies

This is essentially a dump, mix, and bake cookie — very straightforward.

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick spray or line with parchment if preferred.
2. Place the entire box of angel food cake mix into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add 3/4 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves.
4. Beat on low speed for 1 minute until the mix is evenly moistened, then beat for an additional minute. If you have a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment.
5. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by spoon.
6. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. A small cookie scoop works well for uniform cookies.
7. Bake 10–12 minutes, watching carefully so they don’t overbake.
8. Let cookies sit on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
9. Optional: garnish with a small amount of strawberry preserves on top once cooled.

How to Add a Strawberry Preserves Heart

For a festive touch, use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter as a template. Place the cutter on a cooled cookie, fill the cavity with a little preserved strawberry jam using a makeshift piping bag (a small plastic storage bag with a tiny corner snipped off), then gently spread the jam to fill the shape. Remove the cutter carefully so the heart stays neat.

Tips and Notes

• You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper, but cookies baked on parchment may not be as crisp on the bottom.
• Don’t overbake: remove the cookies when the centers still look slightly soft. They continue to set as they cool.
• Brands used in testing: Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix, Smucker’s Sugar-Free Strawberry Preserves, and Nestlé Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. Any similar brands will work.
• A small cookie scoop makes portioning the dough quick and consistent.
• The strawberry preserves heart is optional and not included in the ingredient amounts below.
• Store cookies with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking.

These cookies have become a favorite and we’ll be making them year-round. They’re quick to prepare, visually appealing, and satisfy a sweet craving with fewer calories than many traditional cookie recipes.