Description
Delightful strawberry shortbread cookies bring Italian countryside charm to your baking adventure. Sweet, buttery shortbread meets fresh strawberry essence for an irresistible treat you’ll savor with pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (1 oz/28 g) freeze-dried strawberries
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks/226 g) butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) milk
Instructions
- Pulverize freeze-dried strawberries in a blender until they transform into a fine, dust-like powder, creating an intense fruity foundation for the cookies.
- Separate one teaspoon of strawberry powder for potential glaze enhancement, setting aside the remainder for the cookie base.
- Integrate the strawberry powder with flour, whisking thoroughly to distribute the vibrant ingredient evenly throughout the dry mixture.
- Cream softened butter and powdered sugar in a stand mixer, whipping until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately one minute.
- Gradually fold the flour-strawberry blend into the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Use a spatula to scrape bowl edges, ensuring all ingredients are uniformly incorporated and no flour pockets remain.
- Form the dough into a compact disc, wrap securely in plastic, and refrigerate for 15 minutes to solidify and enhance flavor melding.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to a quarter-inch thickness, using cookie cutters to create precise shapes and transferring them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Return the cookie-laden sheet to the refrigerator for an additional 15-minute chill, which helps maintain their structured shape during baking.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake cookies for 15-17 minutes, monitoring to prevent excessive browning while ensuring centers are set.
- Simultaneously prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar with milk, optionally incorporating the reserved strawberry powder for enhanced flavor complexity.
- After cookies completely cool, apply glaze by either drizzling or dipping, optionally garnishing with crushed freeze-dried strawberry fragments for textural intrigue.
- Allow glazed cookies to set for approximately 15 minutes, permitting the topping to harden and intensify the decorative elements.
Notes
- Enhance strawberry flavor by using high-quality freeze-dried strawberries, ensuring a concentrated and vibrant taste throughout the cookies.
- Keep butter at room temperature but not overly soft to maintain the perfect texture and prevent spreading during baking.
- Chill the dough twice to guarantee precise cookie shapes and prevent excessive spreading, resulting in beautifully defined edges.
- Customize the recipe by substituting gluten-free flour for a celiac-friendly version or using alternative milk options for different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg