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Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar Recipe

4.7 from 135 reviews

Delight in these soft and tender Strawberry Sugar Cookies, infused with freeze-dried strawberry powder and enhanced with pure vanilla and strawberry extracts. Each cookie is coated with sparkling strawberry sugar for a festive crunch and a burst of strawberry flavor. Perfect for a sweet treat or special occasion, these cookies offer a vibrant pink hue and a luscious fruity aroma that will enchant your senses.

Ingredients

Scale

Strawberry Sugar Cookies

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons (36g) freeze dried strawberry powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure strawberry extract (Amoretti Artisan Natural Wild Strawberry or Cooks)
  • ½ teaspoon red gel food coloring

Sparkling Strawberry Sugar

  • ½ cup white or red sparkling sugar (sanding sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon freeze dried strawberry powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare Strawberry Powder: Blend or process freeze-dried strawberries using a high-speed blender or spice grinder until a fine powder forms. Mix this powder thoroughly with granulated sugar. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until needed.
  2. Prepare Sparkling Strawberry Sugar: Combine 1 tablespoon of freeze-dried strawberry powder with ½ cup of sparkling sugar. Stir well to blend evenly and store in an airtight container away from moisture until use.
  3. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Set the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and place them aside for later use.
  4. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  5. Add Eggs and Extracts: Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, ensuring each is fully blended before adding the next. Then, mix in the vanilla extract, strawberry extract, and red gel food coloring until fully incorporated.
  6. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and freeze-dried strawberry powder until they are blended thoroughly.
  7. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in the stand mixer on low speed. Mix just until incorporated, being careful not to overmix to maintain cookie tenderness.
  8. Chill the Dough: Cover the cookie dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight to allow the flavors to meld and the dough to firm up.
  9. Scoop and Coat Cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop, form 30 cookie dough balls. Roll each ball between your palms to smooth, then roll in the prepared Sparkling Strawberry Sugar until fully coated. Place the coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart.
  10. Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cookie tops just begin to set without browning.
  11. Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pans for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
  12. Store Properly: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • For best texture, do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients to keep cookies soft and tender.
  • Chilling the dough enhances flavor development and makes the dough easier to handle.
  • Use a high-quality pure strawberry extract for the most authentic strawberry flavor.
  • Freeze-dried strawberry powder can be prepared ahead and stored for future baking projects.
  • Adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve your preferred shade of pink.
  • Ensure cookies have enough space on baking sheets to prevent sticking and even baking.

Keywords: Strawberry Sugar Cookies, Strawberry Cookies, Sparkling Sugar Cookies, Freeze-Dried Strawberry Powder, Pink Sugar Cookies, Soft Cookies, Dessert Cookies