If you adore cookies that are soft, irresistibly sweet, and bursting with fresh berry flavor, you simply must try Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar. Every bite delivers vibrant strawberry notes, a hint of vanilla, an ultra-tender crumb, and a playful, sparkling finish thanks to an ingenious twist on the classic sugar sprinkle. This recipe balances the nostalgia of a traditional sugar cookie with the fun, summery surprise of real freeze-dried strawberries, making it a delight to bake (and eat) at any time of year.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for a short list of ingredients, each playing its essential part in building that perfect cookie: soft and chewy inside, gently crisp outside, and saturated with berry sunshine. Don’t skip the sparkling strawberry sugar—it’s truly a magic touch.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: The secret weapon for natural strawberry flavor and vibrant pink color in both the dough and the sparkling topping.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the essential structure to the cookie, ensuring the perfect soft bite every time.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies puff slightly for a lovely soft texture.
- Baking soda: Gives just enough lift to keep the crumb light and airy.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies every berry and vanilla note.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The foundation of a rich, flavorful cookie with a melt-in-your-mouth feel.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and creates that classic sugar cookie texture, plus forms the base of the sparkling topping.
- Powdered sugar: Contributes a delicate, tender crumb to the finished cookie by reducing gluten development.
- Large egg: Binds everything together for a cohesive and chewy result.
- Vanilla extract: Brings aromatic warmth and grounds the fruity notes.
- Almond extract (optional): Just a splash adds a grown-up nuance and intensifies the strawberry flavor beautifully.
- Milk: Loosens the dough ever so slightly, making the texture perfectly chewy.
- Additional freeze-dried strawberry sugar for rolling: Where the magic happens—this homemade sprinkle makes every cookie sparkle and taste like spring!
How to Make Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Strawberries
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy clean-up and perfect golden bottoms. Place the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor and pulse until finely ground, releasing all that fruity aroma. Set aside 2 tablespoons of this powder for your sparkling sugar, which will finish the cookies with pizzazz.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining ground strawberry powder. This step evenly disperses the strawberry color and flavor throughout your dough, plus ensures you don’t get any pockets of baking soda or powder in your cookies.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar. Beat until the mixture is light, pale, and fluffy—this takes about 2 to 3 minutes and makes all the difference in creating a soft, tender cookie you’ll love.
Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and milk until smooth. The dough should look plush and almost mousse-like at this stage, giving you a hint of just how delicious your cookies will taste.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing, which can lead to tough cookies—the dough should be a little sticky and perfectly pink!
Step 6: Shape and Roll in Sparkling Strawberry Sugar
Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls with your hands. Now, for the magical touch: roll each ball in your homemade sparkling strawberry sugar (the reserved ground strawberries mixed with additional granulated sugar). Set them 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets so they have room to puff and crackle beautifully.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, watching for the edges to set while the centers remain soft and pillowy. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to finish setting up, then transfer gently to a wire rack. Try to resist eating them all warm—at least until you’ve seen how gorgeous they look!
How to Serve Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar
Garnishes
For that little extra flourish, sprinkle the cookies with an additional pinch of sparkling strawberry sugar immediately after baking. A drizzle of white chocolate or a tiny edible flower on top can add visual drama without overpowering the cookie’s signature flavor.
Side Dishes
Serve your Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar alongside a chilled glass of strawberry lemonade, a bowl of fresh berries, or even a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a colorful, irresistible dessert platter.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange the cookies in a pastel box tied with a pink ribbon for a gorgeous edible gift. For a summer party, stack them high on a cake stand, or tuck them into glass jars as take-home favors. You can even sandwich a swirl of whipped cream or strawberry buttercream between two cookies for a fun twist!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. The sparkling strawberry sugar helps them stay soft while maintaining their gentle crunch, so they’re as delicious on day three as they are right out of the oven.
Freezing
These Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar are great freezer candidates! Freeze the baked cookies (fully cooled) in a single layer, then transfer to a zip-top bag or container. They’ll keep their wonderful flavor and texture for up to two months—just let them thaw at room temperature when you need a sweet burst of strawberry joy.
Reheating
If you’d like to serve the cookies slightly warm, pop them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for just 3 to 4 minutes. This refreshes the texture and makes the strawberry aroma bloom all over again. Avoid microwaving, which can make them chewy or tough.
FAQs
Can I use fresh strawberries instead of freeze-dried?
Fresh strawberries contain too much moisture, which will throw off the dough’s balance and texture. Freeze-dried strawberries are the best way to add intense berry flavor and color without altering the structure of the cookie.
Is almond extract necessary?
Almond extract is completely optional! It adds a subtle, sophisticated undertone, but if you’re not a fan, feel free to leave it out. The cookies will still be bursting with strawberry and vanilla goodness.
Can I make these vegan?
Yes! Replace the butter with a high-quality vegan butter substitute, and use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) in place of the regular egg. Check that your sugars are vegan too.
How do I make the sparkling strawberry sugar?
Simply mix together 2 tablespoons of the reserved ground freeze-dried strawberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar. This homemade sprinkle adds a crunchy, sweet finish and amps up the natural berry flavor beautifully.
What’s the best way to get evenly sized cookies?
Use a small cookie scoop or a measuring tablespoon to portion out your dough. Rolling each portion between your palms will also help create smooth, uniform cookies for an impressive, bakery-worthy look.
Final Thoughts
Making Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar is pure joy—easy enough for busy days but show-stopping for special occasions. With every bite, you’ll fall a little more in love with the vibrant berry flavor, gently crisp edges, and dreamy pink sparkle. Go ahead, treat yourself and bake up a batch to share—or to savor all to yourself!
Print
Strawberry Sugar Cookies with Sparkling Strawberry Sugar Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight your taste buds with these Strawberry Sugar Cookies featuring a hint of sparkling strawberry sugar. These soft, flavorful cookies are perfect for any spring or summer occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Additional freeze-dried strawberry sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare Strawberry Powder: Pulse freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until finely ground. Set aside 2 tablespoons for the sugar topping.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining ground strawberry powder.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in egg, vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and milk until smooth.
- Combine and Bake: Gradually mix in dry ingredients to form a soft dough. Roll into balls, coat in strawberry sugar, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
- To make sparkling strawberry sugar: Mix 2 tablespoons of ground freeze-dried strawberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Store any extra in an airtight container.
- These cookies freeze well and are perfect for spring and summer gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
