Description
Delightfully refreshing and bursting with summer flavors, Strawberry Lemonade Cookies combine zesty lemon and fresh strawberry puree for a soft, chewy treat. Perfect for picnics, afternoon tea, or as a sweet seasonal snack, these cookies offer a subtle balance of bright citrus and sweet berry notes with a tender buttery crumb.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 zest of lemon (about 1 lemon)
- ¼ cup fresh strawberries, pureed (use ripe strawberries for best flavor)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined to ensure a uniform texture.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color, creating the base for a tender cookie.
- Add Wet Flavorings: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, pureed strawberries, and lemon juice into the butter mixture. Mix thoroughly until fully combined and the batter has a beautiful swirled pink and yellow appearance.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
- Portion Dough: Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until cookie edges turn lightly golden. The centers may appear slightly underdone but will firm as they cool.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely to avoid sogginess.
Notes
- For an extra touch, drizzle a simple lemon glaze or dust with additional powdered sugar after the cookies have cooled.
- Use ripe strawberries for the best flavor; freeze-dried strawberry powder can be substituted if rehydrated properly.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and texture.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender and avoid toughness.
- If desired, slice chilled dough into discs and bake for more uniform cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
