Description
Delightful strawberry lemonade cookies blend sweet summer memories with zesty citrus notes. Refreshing ingredients and simple baking techniques bring this delectable treat to life for home bakers seeking pure enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (75 g) freeze-dried strawberries, crushed (or ¾ cup fresh diced strawberries, patted dry)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for consistent cookie development.
- Creaming: Whip butter and sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture transforms into a fluffy, pale consistency with a silky smooth texture.
- Flavor Integration: Blend egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, ensuring comprehensive flavor distribution.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together, creating a light, homogeneous dry ingredient foundation.
- Dough Formation: Gently merge dry ingredients with wet ingredients, mixing minimally to preserve the cookie’s delicate structure, then fold in crushed freeze-dried strawberries for vibrant fruity bursts.
- Portioning and Baking: Arrange rounded dough portions onto the prepared sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart, and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers set softly.
- Cooling: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, ensuring a perfect texture and optimal flavor development.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently combine wet and dry ingredients to maintain a soft, tender cookie texture without developing tough gluten.
- Optimize Fruit Distribution: Crush freeze-dried strawberries into small, even pieces to ensure consistent strawberry flavor throughout each cookie.
- Control Moisture Balance: Use room temperature ingredients to help create a smooth, well-integrated dough that bakes evenly and prevents spreading.
- Precision in Baking Time: Watch cookies closely during the last few minutes of baking, as the golden edges indicate perfect doneness without overcooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg