Description
Delicate heart-shaped strawberry shortbread cookies celebrate love with buttery, crumbly texture and sweet strawberry essence. Romantic desserts like these connect bakers to cherished moments of affection, inviting you to share warmth through each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (50 g) freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsps milk or heavy cream
- 2 tbsps freeze-dried strawberry powder (or strawberry jam)
- Pink or red gel food coloring (optional)
- Additional crushed freeze-dried strawberries
- Heart-shaped sprinkles
Instructions
- Creaming: Whip softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, airy base for the shortbread.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend vanilla extract and ground freeze-dried strawberries into the creamed mixture, ensuring even distribution of aromatic elements.
- Dough Formation: Delicately incorporate flour and salt, mixing until a tender, cohesive dough develops without overworking.
- Chilling Preparation: Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up and enhance flavor melding.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 325F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
- Shaping: Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness, then use heart-shaped cookie cutters to create delicate cookie silhouettes.
- Baking: Arrange cookies on prepared sheets with ample spacing and bake for 12-15 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden hue.
- Cooling: Transfer baked cookies to a cooling rack, allowing them to set and reach perfect texture.
- Glazing: Craft a luxurious strawberry glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and crushed freeze-dried strawberry powder until smooth and glossy.
- Decorating: Adorn cooled cookies with strawberry glaze, creating artistic drizzles or complete coatings, and embellish with additional strawberry crumbles or decorative elements while glaze remains wet.
Notes
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading and maintain the precise heart shape during baking, ensuring crisp edges and a perfect cookie outline.
- Manage Moisture Carefully: Use completely dried freeze-dried strawberries to prevent excess moisture that could compromise the shortbread’s delicate texture and structural integrity.
- Roll with Precision: Maintain a consistent 1/4-inch thickness while rolling to guarantee even baking and uniform cookie texture, preventing any uneven browning or texture variations.
- Glaze Application Technique: Allow cookies to cool completely before glazing to prevent melting and ensure a clean, professional-looking finish that adheres smoothly to the shortbread surface.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg