Strawberry Shortcake Pudding Cookies

"As I continue to teach my daughter that it is possible to bake cookies without a box mix, we've been trying a variety of cookie recipes. It's amazing how different the texture and flavor can be simply by using different sugars. There are lots of ways to tweak and customize cookies, making baking all the more fun. For too long, I was afraid to alter ingredients because baking seemed to require more rigorous direction following. While I may not fully understand baking chemistry, I must say that instant pudding is an incredible secret ingredient. Okay, more like not-so-secret. Still, I love trying new base recipes in order to have fun with various mix-ins. If my daughter had her way, these would have been loaded with sprinkles too. Maybe next time. Alright, are you ready to get baking?"