Description
Irresistible strawberry sugar cookies blend classic sweetness with fresh fruit essence. Bakers can enjoy delightful treats that showcase summer’s most beloved berry in a simple, delectable cookie format.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ⅓ cup (50 g) freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 12 drops pink gel food coloring
- Granulated sugar or sanding sugar (for rolling)
- Strawberry glaze or frosting (optional)
Instructions
- Creaming: Blend butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, pale base for the cookies.
- Liquid Integration: Mix egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and uniform consistency.
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, then crumble freeze-dried strawberries throughout the dry ingredients for even distribution.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until a cohesive dough forms. Add pink gel food coloring for a delicate rose-like appearance if desired.
- Chilling Process: Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm up.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal non-stick surface.
- Shaping and Coating: Remove chilled dough and roll into 1-inch spheres, optionally coating with granulated sugar for a sparkling exterior. Place on prepared baking sheets with adequate spacing.
- Baking: Gently flatten cookie balls and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers.
- Cooling: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use room-temperature butter for a smooth, creamy base that ensures even mixing and soft cookie texture.
- Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerating the dough helps prevent spreading and intensifies the strawberry flavor, creating a more compact cookie.
- Crush Strawberries Carefully: Finely crumble freeze-dried strawberries to distribute flavor evenly without creating large chunks that disrupt cookie texture.
- Avoid Overbaking: Watch cookies closely during the last few minutes of baking; they should have set edges but remain slightly soft in the center for a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 135 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg