Valentine Strawberry Cookies are a delightful way to celebrate love and sweetness. These cookies are soft, chewy, and infused with a burst of strawberry flavor, making them perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time you want to spread a little love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Themed: With their pretty pink color and strawberry flavor, they’re perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is simple and beginner-friendly.
- Customizable: Add chocolate chips, heart-shaped sprinkles, or a drizzle of white chocolate for extra charm.
- Unique Flavor: The strawberry taste is sweet and fruity, offering something a little different from traditional cookies.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Strawberry extract
- Pink or red food coloring (optional)
- Freeze-dried strawberries (crushed into a powder)
- Heart-shaped sprinkles or white chocolate drizzle (optional, for garnish)
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, strawberry extract, and food coloring until fully combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Add Strawberry Powder: Fold in the crushed freeze-dried strawberries for an extra burst of flavor.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Decorate: Once cooled, drizzle with melted white chocolate or add heart-shaped sprinkles for a festive touch.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: Makes about 24 cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Variations
- Chocolate-Dipped Cookies: Dip the cookies halfway in melted dark or white chocolate and let them set.
- Strawberry-Chocolate Combo: Add mini chocolate chips to the dough for a strawberry and chocolate twist.
- Heart-Shaped Cookies: Roll out the dough and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter for a festive design.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free.
Storage/Reheating
- Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze the cookies (without decoration) for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Reheating: These cookies don’t need reheating but can be warmed in the microwave for 10 seconds for a softer texture.
FAQs
1. Can I use fresh strawberries instead of freeze-dried?
Freeze-dried strawberries work best to avoid adding excess moisture, but finely chopped fresh strawberries can be used in small quantities.
2. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, the dough can be made and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month.
3. How do I crush the freeze-dried strawberries?
Place them in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin, or use a food processor for a finer powder.
4. Can I use strawberry jam for flavor?
Strawberry jam can be added, but it may change the dough’s consistency, so adjust the flour as needed.
5. Can I skip the food coloring?
Yes, the food coloring is optional and only used to enhance the pink color.
6. How do I prevent the cookies from spreading?
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the cookies maintain their shape.
7. Can I substitute the strawberry extract?
You can use vanilla extract or another flavor extract, but the cookies will lose their strawberry flavor.
8. What other decorations can I add?
Sprinkles, edible glitter, or a dusting of powdered sugar are great options for decoration.
9. Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, use a vegan butter substitute and a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water) to replace the egg.
10. How do I know when the cookies are done?
The edges should be set, but the centers may look slightly underbaked. They’ll firm up as they cool.
Conclusion
Valentine Strawberry Cookies are a sweet, flavorful, and festive treat perfect for celebrating love and special occasions. Their vibrant color and fruity flavor make them a standout addition to any dessert table. Try these easy-to-make cookies for a delicious way to spread the love!
Print
Valentine Strawberry Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Valentine Strawberry Cookies are soft, sweet, and full of strawberry flavor, making them perfect for celebrating love. With their pretty pink hue and optional chocolate drizzle or sprinkles, they’re a delightful treat for Valentine’s Day or any romantic occasion.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons (20g) freeze-dried strawberry powder (or finely crushed freeze-dried strawberries)
- 1–2 drops red or pink food coloring (optional)
- 1/2 cup (85g) white chocolate chips or melted white chocolate (optional for drizzle)
- Heart-shaped sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and freeze-dried strawberry powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- If desired, mix in a drop or two of red or pink food coloring to enhance the color.
- Shape the Cookies:
- Scoop tablespoons of dough (about 1 1/2 tablespoons per cookie) and roll into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
- Bake the Cookies:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers look slightly underbaked.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate (Optional):
- Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.
- Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies and add heart-shaped sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
- Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve the cookies as a Valentine’s Day treat or package them in decorative boxes for gifting.
Notes
- For a stronger strawberry flavor, add a teaspoon of strawberry extract to the dough.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For extra texture, mix in mini chocolate chips or chopped dried strawberries.