The Best Strawberry Sugar Cookies Recipe: Sweet Summer Joy

Sweet strawberry sugar cookies dance with vibrant flavor, turning ordinary afternoons into delightful moments of pure joy.

Biting into a soft, pillowy treat bursting with fruity essence that melts on your tongue.

Summer memories flood back with each delicate bite of these pink-hued delights.

Delicate strawberry pieces nestle within buttery dough, creating a harmonious blend of textures that surprise and delight.

These cookies invite spontaneous celebration, whether shared during lazy weekend afternoons or packed for picnic adventures.

Quick to mix and even quicker to disappear, they promise smiles and sugary satisfaction.

You’ll want to clear your schedule and start baking right now.

Why Strawberry Sugar Cookies Are So Bright And Tasty

• Burst of Fruity Flavor: Crushed freeze-dried strawberries infuse these cookies with a vibrant, natural strawberry taste that elevates them from ordinary sugar cookies to something extraordinary.
• Super Simple Technique: The recipe uses basic mixing and baking methods, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced home cooks who want a quick and delightful treat.
• Pretty Pink Presentation: With optional pink gel food coloring and a sparkling sugar coating, these cookies look as gorgeous as they taste, making them ideal for celebrations, tea parties, or sweet gifting moments.
• Minimal Chill, Maximum Delight: A short 30-minute refrigeration time ensures the dough is easy to handle and creates perfectly tender cookies with crisp edges and soft, melt-in-your-mouth centers.

What To Use For Strawberry Sugar Cookies

• Butter, Sugar: Creamy base for soft, sweet cookies with rich flavor. Unsalted butter recommended for better control of salt content.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure. Fresh, room temperature egg works best.
• Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Adds warm, complex flavor notes. Pure extracts preferred over artificial versions.

• All-Purpose Flour: Primary structure for cookie texture. Sifted flour helps prevent lumps.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light. Fresh baking powder ensures best results.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity. Fine sea salt or kosher salt recommended.

• Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Provides intense strawberry flavor and natural pink color. Crush into fine powder for even distribution.
• Pink Gel Food Coloring: Optional enhancement for vibrant color. Gel coloring gives more concentrated color than liquid.
• Granulated Sugar, Sanding Sugar: Creates sparkly, sweet exterior. Sanding sugar provides extra crunch and decorative shine.

How To Make Strawberry Sugar Cookies In A Snap

Step 1: Whip Up the Base

In a spacious mixing bowl, grab your electric mixer and blend butter and sugar until they transform into a cloud-like, airy mixture. This should take about 2-3 minutes of passionate beating. Toss in the egg, vanilla, and optional almond extract, mixing until everything looks smooth and happy.

Step 2: Create the Dry Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Crushed freeze-dried strawberries

Whisk these ingredients together until they’re perfectly integrated.

Step 3: Merge and Color

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into your buttery mixture. Stir gently until a soft, pillowy dough forms. If you want extra pizzazz, add a touch of pink gel food coloring and mix until the color is evenly distributed.

Step 4: Chill and Rest

Wrap your dough in plastic wrap and send it to the refrigerator for a cool 30-minute nap. This helps the flavors mingle and makes the dough easier to handle.

Step 5: Prepare for Baking

Warm up your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 6: Shape and Roll

Pull out your chilled dough and roll it into adorable 1-inch balls. For extra sparkle, roll each ball in granulated or sanding sugar.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Place the sugar-coated dough balls on your prepared sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each. Gently press down to slightly flatten. Slide the sheets into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for set edges but soft, tender centers.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. These strawberry sugar cookies are ready to melt hearts and delight taste buds!

Tips That Work For Strawberry Sugar Cookies

• Freeze Dried Magic: Crush freeze-dried strawberries finely to distribute intense strawberry flavor evenly throughout the cookie dough without adding extra moisture.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Roll cookies in sparkling sanding sugar for a gorgeous, crisp exterior that adds delightful texture and extra sweetness.
• Chill for Perfect Shape: Always refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies' beautiful round shape during baking.
• Color Enhancement Hack: Use pink gel food coloring sparingly to create a soft, natural-looking strawberry-inspired hue without overwhelming the delicate flavor.
• Storage Wisdom: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

How To Store Strawberry Sugar Cookies The Right Way

• Refrigerate: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper, separating layers to prevent sticking. Cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.
• Freeze: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cookies maintain quality for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for best texture.
• Reheat: Warm cookies briefly in the microwave for 510 seconds or place in a preheated 300F oven for 23 minutes to restore that freshly baked softness and bring out the strawberry flavor.
• Prevent Sogginess: Keep cookies away from moisture and store with a piece of bread to help maintain their tender, crisp texture.

Perfect Pairings For Strawberry Sugar Cookies

• Pair with Champagne Bliss: Sip on a crisp, bubbly champagne that complements the sweet strawberry notes, cutting through the cookie's richness with its effervescent charm.
• Match with Strawberry Smoothie: Create a delightful flavor echo by serving a creamy strawberry smoothie alongside these cookies, enhancing the fruity undertones and providing a refreshing contrast.
• Elevate with Mascarpone Cream: Serve a small dollop of light, velvety mascarpone cream as a dipping sauce, adding a luxurious touch that balances the cookie's sweetness and brings out the delicate strawberry essence.
• Complement with Earl Grey Tea: Brew a fragrant Earl Grey tea that offers a subtle bergamot flavor, which beautifully harmonizes with the strawberry's brightness and the cookie's buttery texture.

Ways To Remix Strawberry Sugar Cookies

• Raspberry Swirl Cookies: Replace freeze-dried strawberries with crushed freeze-dried raspberries for a tangy berry flavor. Add a light pink raspberry glaze made from powdered sugar and raspberry puree for extra fruity goodness.
• Citrus Berry Burst: Incorporate lemon or orange zest into the cookie dough for a bright, zesty undertone. Sprinkle finely chopped candied citrus peel on top before baking to enhance the citrus-berry combination.
• Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cookies: After cooling completely, dip half of each cookie in melted white or dark chocolate. Sprinkle crushed freeze-dried strawberries on the chocolate coating for added texture and intense strawberry flavor.
• Nutty Strawberry Crunch: Mix chopped almonds or pistachios into the cookie dough for a delightful nutty crunch. Roll the cookie balls in chopped nuts before baking to create a crunchy exterior that complements the soft, fruity cookie.

FAQs For Strawberry Sugar Cookies

• Why use freeze-dried strawberries in the cookie dough?

Freeze-dried strawberries add intense strawberry flavor and natural color without adding extra moisture to the dough. They create a concentrated burst of fruity taste that enhances the cookie’s overall flavor profile.

• Can I make these cookies without food coloring?

Absolutely! The freeze-dried strawberries will naturally give the cookies a soft pink hue. If you want a more vibrant color, the gel food coloring is optional but can create a more dramatic look.

• How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for slightly set edges and a soft center. The cookies should look slightly underbaked when you remove them from the oven. They’ll continue to set as they cool, ensuring a soft, tender texture.

• What's the purpose of chilling the dough?

Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. It allows the butter to firm up, resulting in a more controlled spread and a better-shaped cookie with more concentrated flavor.

Strawberry Sugar Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful strawberry sugar cookies bring a sweet splash of summer to classic dessert lovers. Homemade cookies with fresh strawberry essence offer a perfect balance of fruity charm and buttery richness you can savor with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Strawberry Sugar Cookies

Main Ingredients:

• 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

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• ⅓ cup (50 g) freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed
• 12 drops pink gel food coloring

Dry Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Garnish:

• Granulated sugar or sanding sugar for rolling
• Strawberry glaze or frosting

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Instructions

1. Whip soft butter and granulated sugar in a spacious mixing bowl using an electric mixer until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
2. Introduce the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts, blending thoroughly to integrate the liquid components and create a uniform mixture.
3. In a separate container, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, then crumble freeze-dried strawberries into the dry ingredients, ensuring even distribution.
4. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a cohesive dough emerges, incorporating optional pink gel food coloring for a delicate rosy hue.
5. Encase the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to meld and the dough to firm up.
6. Heat the oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats, creating a non-stick surface.
7. Extract the chilled dough and form small spheres approximately 1 inch in diameter, optionally rolling them in granulated sugar for a sparkling exterior.
8. Arrange the dough balls on prepared baking sheets, leaving sufficient space between each cookie, and gently flatten them with a light touch.
9. Slide the trays into the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers.
10. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to reach room temperature.

Notes

• Swap freeze-dried strawberries with other freeze-dried fruits like raspberries or blueberries for unique flavor variations that add vibrant color and natural sweetness to your cookies.
• Make the recipe gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring those with dietary restrictions can still enjoy these delightful treats.
• Control cookie texture by adjusting chilling time: longer refrigeration (up to 24 hours) creates denser, less-spread cookies, while shorter chilling results in thinner, more delicate edges.
• Enhance strawberry intensity by adding a small amount of strawberry extract or using high-quality strawberry jam swirled into the dough for deeper, more concentrated fruit flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg