Strawberry Shortbread Cookies: Irresistible 7-Step Heart Cookies Recipe
These Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are a delightful blend of buttery richness and fruity freshness, featuring freeze-dried strawberries incorporated into both the dough and the glaze. Perfectly tender with a subtle strawberry flavor, these heart-shaped cookies are baked to a delicate golden edge and topped with a sweet strawberry glaze for a lovely finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups freeze-dried strawberries, measured then blended
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons milk
Strawberry Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon freeze-dried strawberries, finely processed
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberry Powder: Process the freeze-dried strawberries until they reach a mostly powdered consistency. Set aside one tablespoon of this powder to use later for the glaze.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened salted butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and fully combined, creating a creamy base for the cookie dough.
- Flavor the Dough: Add the vanilla extract, milk, and the powdered freeze-dried strawberries to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly until evenly blended to infuse the dough with strawberry flavor.
- Rest the Dough: Shape the dough into a flat disk and refrigerate it for 15 minutes. This chilling step helps maintain clean, precise heart shapes during cookie cutting and baking.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: Roll the chilled dough out to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a lightly floured surface. Use a heart-shaped cutter to cut the dough and place the shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets for baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden. Remove from the oven and cool completely on wire racks.
- Glaze the Cookies: Mix together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and the reserved finely processed freeze-dried strawberry powder until smooth. Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled cookies and allow it to set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened but not melted to achieve the perfect dough consistency.
- Chilling the dough is important for holding the cookie shapes during baking.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freeze-dried strawberries provide concentrated flavor without adding moisture to the dough.
Keywords: Strawberry shortbread cookies, heart-shaped cookies, freeze-dried strawberry cookies, strawberry glaze, easy shortbread recipe
