Description
This Strawberry Lemonade Cut Out Cookie recipe combines buttery sugar cookie dough with freeze-dried strawberries, fresh lemon zest, and flavorful extracts for a bright, fruity twist on classic cut-out cookies. The dough rolls smoothly, holds intricate shapes during baking, and is perfect for decorating with royal icing or a simple lemon glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons strawberry extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.8 ounce (about 23 g) freeze-dried strawberries, finely crushed into powder
- Zest of 1 medium lemon
- 3 to 3 1/2 cups (360–420 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 drops pink food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, lemon extract, strawberry extract, salt, baking powder, freeze-dried strawberry powder, lemon zest, and optional food coloring. Mix until fully combined.
- Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. Add the remaining flour only if needed.
- Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Refrigerate the rolled dough for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut the chilled dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 7–9 minutes, until the tops appear matte without noticeable browning.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Cool completely before decorating with lemon royal icing or your favorite cookie icing.
Notes
- Always chill the dough before cutting to prevent spreading.
- Freeze-dried strawberries provide concentrated flavor without adding excess moisture.
- Do not overbake; remove the cookies once the tops lose their shine.
- For stronger lemon flavor, add extra zest instead of more extract.
- The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before baking.
- Freeze the dough for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Decorate only after the cookies have completely cooled.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 105 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg