Description
Delight in these vibrant Strawberry Sugar Cookies, perfectly soft and bursting with natural strawberry flavor from freeze-dried strawberry powder. These classic cookies are enhanced with a subtle fruity twist that makes them perfect for any occasion, from afternoon tea to festive parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Flavoring
- 3 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberry powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt throughout the flour.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and well combined, which helps to create a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar until fully incorporated, adding flavor and moisture to the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and maintaining a tender crumb.
- Incorporate Strawberry Powder: Fold in the freeze-dried strawberry powder evenly into the cookie dough to infuse the cookies with a natural strawberry flavor and a pretty pink hue.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing each ball about 2 inches apart to give the cookies room to spread.
- Flatten Dough Balls: Gently flatten each dough ball slightly by pressing down with the bottom of a glass, which helps the cookies bake evenly with a classic sugar cookie shape.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly baked through while staying soft inside.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps the cookies firm up without becoming hard.
Notes
- Freeze-dried strawberry powder adds natural strawberry flavor and color without moisture; avoid substituting with strawberry jam or fresh strawberries.
- Make sure butter is softened but not melted to achieve the best texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
