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Strawberry Lemonade Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 93 reviews

These Strawberry Lemonade Cookies combine zesty lemon sugar cookies with a creamy strawberry buttercream frosting, creating a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors. The lemon-infused dough is soft and tender, while the vibrant freeze-dried strawberry frosting adds a fresh and fruity finish, making these cookies a delightful treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Lemon Sugar Cookies

  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 Tablespoons (42g) vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 large egg + 1 large yolk, at room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon (10g) cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

For the Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

  • 1½ cups (33g or 1.2oz) freeze-dried strawberries
  • 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2½ cups (300g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup (60mL) heavy cream
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

For Garnish

  • Freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
  • Fresh lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Prepare Lemon Sugar Cookies: Melt the butter and let it cool slightly. Rub the granulated sugar and lemon zest together with your fingers to release the lemon oils. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, lemon sugar, vegetable oil, egg and yolk, lemon juice, and vanilla until combined and lightened, about 1 minute.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: Add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Use a rubber spatula to mix until fully incorporated into a soft dough.
  3. Chill Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up, which helps in easy scooping and prevents spreading during baking.
  4. Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  5. Scoop and Shape Cookies: Use a #24 cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons) to portion dough. Roll each into a ball and place onto prepared sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your palm. Keep remaining dough refrigerated.
  6. Bake Cookies: Bake for 12-13 minutes or until centers are no longer wet and edges are golden brown. Remove and let cool completely on the baking sheets.
  7. Make Strawberry Powder: While cookies bake, pulse freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until finely ground into a powder.
  8. Prepare Strawberry Buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes). Scrape sides of bowl.
  9. Add Frosting Ingredients: Add strawberry powder, powdered sugar, heavy cream, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix on low speed until combined, scraping bowl as needed.
  10. Whip Frosting: Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes until frosting is smooth and creamy.
  11. Decorate Cookies: Use a cookie scoop to dollop frosting onto each cooled cookie. Spread frosting evenly with an offset spatula or back of a spoon, finishing with a swirl pattern. Garnish with crushed freeze-dried strawberries and fresh lemon zest.
  12. Serve and Enjoy: Allow frosting to set slightly if desired, then serve these refreshing strawberry lemonade cookies as a delightful treat.

Notes

  • Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
  • Chilling the dough helps prevent cookies from spreading too much during baking.
  • Use freeze-dried strawberries rather than dehydrated for best flavor and powdered texture.
  • The frosting can be adjusted for consistency by adding more powdered sugar to thicken or more cream to thin.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.

Keywords: strawberry lemonade cookies, lemon sugar cookies, strawberry buttercream, freeze-dried strawberries, lemon zest cookies, homemade cookies

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/strawberry-lemonade-cookies-recipe/