Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Dreamy Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe for Sweet Bliss

Sweet and buttery strawberry shortbread cookies have become my latest kitchen obsession.

Crumbly textures merge with delicate fruit flavors in this delightful treat.

Baking these delicate morsels feels like creating edible art in my small home kitchen.

Southern bakers know how magical simple ingredients can become when mixed with care and creativity.

Fragrant strawberries dance through classic shortbread, creating a sensational combination that melts on your tongue.

Crisp edges and soft centers make these cookies irresistible for afternoon tea or casual gatherings.

When you slice into these delicate treats, pure happiness emerges with each delectable bite.

Instructions for Pretty, Crumbly Strawberry Cookies

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. This prevents sticky situations and ensures even baking.

Step 2: Craft the Dough Base

In a spacious mixing bowl, whip softened butter and powdered sugar until silky smooth. Splash in vanilla extract and blend thoroughly.

In another bowl, blend:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt

Gradually marry the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. The dough will look crumbly- totally normal!

Step 3: Sprinkle in Tasty Bits

Gently fold white chocolate chips and dried strawberry pieces into the dough, ensuring even distribution.

Step 4: Shape the Delights

Scoop a tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball, and softly press flat using fingers or fork. Arrange cookies on the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the sheet into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Watch closely- shortbread can quickly transform from golden to burnt.

After baking, let cookies rest on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Tips for Strawberry Cookies That Stay Buttery

  • Measure Ingredients Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, butter, and sugar to achieve the perfect shortbread texture and prevent dry or crumbly cookies.
  • Soften Butter Strategically: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing, ensuring smooth incorporation without melting completely.
  • Control Chocolate Distribution: Chop white chocolate chips and dried strawberries into small, uniform pieces to guarantee even flavor in every bite.
  • Prevent Overbaking: Watch cookies closely during the last 2 minutes of baking, removing them when edges turn light golden to maintain a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
  • Cooling Technique Matters: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack, helping them set and preventing potential crumbling.

Store Shortbread Cookies Without Losing Freshness

  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper, separating layers to prevent sticking. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, place in a freezer-safe container, and store for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.
  • Warm cookies gently in a preheated oven at 300F for 3-5 minutes to restore their crisp texture and bring out the white chocolate and strawberry flavors.
  • If serving within 2 days, keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Pair Your Strawberry Cookies with These Treats

  • Complement the delicate strawberry and white chocolate notes with a light, fruity rosé that enhances the cookie's sweetness without overwhelming its subtle flavors.
  • Create a harmonious blend by serving these shortbread cookies with a smooth vanilla latte that echoes the vanilla extract and provides a rich, warm contrast to the crisp cookie texture.
  • Amplify the strawberry element by pairing the cookies with a cold, refreshing strawberry milk that intensifies the dried strawberry pieces and creates a playful, nostalgic dessert experience.
  • Offer a luxurious dipping option with a light mascarpone cream that adds a silky, tangy dimension to the sweet shortbread, balancing the white chocolate's richness.

Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend, ensuring texture remains similar while accommodating wheat-sensitive individuals.

Vegan Strawberry Cookies: Substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, use plant-based white chocolate chips, and swap traditional ingredients with dairy-free alternatives for a completely vegan-friendly version.

Low-Sugar Shortbread Option: Reduce powdered sugar and use stevia or monk fruit sweetener to decrease overall sugar content, perfect for health-conscious bakers wanting a lighter treat.

Chocolate-Strawberry Fusion: Replace white chocolate chips with dark chocolate chunks and add cocoa powder to the dry ingredients, creating a rich chocolate-strawberry flavor profile that enhances the original recipe’s sweetness.

Strawberry Shortbread Cookies That Melt in Your Mouth

  • White chocolate chips and dried strawberries create a luxurious sweet-tangy profile that elevates classic shortbread, delivering a gourmet taste experience without complicated techniques.
  • These cookies shine at various occasions- from afternoon tea gatherings and bridal showers to holiday cookie exchanges and casual family dessert times, ensuring crowd-pleasing appeal for all ages.
  • Shortbread cookies maintain their delicious texture for several days when stored in an airtight container, allowing you to prepare them ahead of time and enjoy fresh, homemade treats throughout the week.

Baking Essentials for Strawberry Shortbread

Base Ingredients:
  • Butter: Soft and creamy foundation for rich, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread texture, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best flavor.
  • Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a delicate, tender cookie, sifted for smoothest consistency.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic flavor depth, pure extract recommended over imitation.
Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Structural base for cookie, provides essential framework and texture.
  • Cornstarch: Creates extra tender and delicate shortbread texture, helps prevent tough cookies.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance, brings out sweetness in the cookie.
Mix-In Ingredients:
  • White Chocolate Chips, Dried Strawberries: Add sweet bursts of flavor and interesting texture, chop dried strawberries finely for even distribution, use good quality white chocolate that melts smoothly.
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Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Strawberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 27 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Sweet summer memories bloom with Strawberry Shortbread Cookies, a delightful fusion of buttery Scottish tradition and fresh California berries. Crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread meets juicy strawberries, creating a perfect companion for afternoon tea that brings pure joy to each delicate bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed into small pieces
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips or chunks

Sweeteners:

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Position the oven rack in the center and heat to 350F (175C). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent cookie adhesion and promote uniform baking.
  2. Cream softened butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl until achieving a silky, uniform texture. Incorporate vanilla extract thoroughly.
  3. Sift flour, cornstarch, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually introduce dry ingredients into the butter mixture, combining until a dense, slightly crumbly dough develops.
  4. Gently fold white chocolate chips and finely diced dried strawberries throughout the dough, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
  5. Portion dough using a tablespoon, rolling each portion into compact spheres. Delicately flatten each ball using fingertips or a fork’s tines.
  6. Arrange cookie dough portions on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining approximately 2 inches of separation between each cookie.
  7. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Monitor closely, watching for light golden edges that indicate optimal doneness.
  8. Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, enabling initial stabilization. Carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling process.

Notes

  • Soften butter at room temperature for easier mixing and smoother cookie texture, ensuring even incorporation of ingredients.
  • Chop dried strawberries finely to distribute flavor evenly and prevent large chunks disrupting the cookie’s delicate structure.
  • For gluten-free option, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the shortbread’s classic crumbly texture.
  • Experiment with alternative mix-ins like freeze-dried raspberry pieces or white chocolate chunks to create unique flavor variations while keeping the base recipe consistent.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 184
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 41 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 23 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 31 mg
Daves Miller

Daves Miller

Contributing Chef & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • American Southern cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Instruction in culinary fundamentals and advanced techniques.
  • Development of recipes that highlight seasonal and local produce.​
  • Mastery of artisanal bread and pastry techniques, from laminated doughs to decorative sugar artistry.

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Degree: Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Specialized in cooking techniques and culinary sciences, hands‑on externships, professional kitchen lab training, and career preparation for restaurants, entrepreneurship, and global culinary opportunities.

White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Arts degree
  • Focus: Specialized in comprehensive baking and pastry arts, including bread making, artisan breads, cake decorating and design, chocolates, confections, and decorative centerpieces; product development and baking theory; and career preparation for baker and pastry chef roles in many places.

Daves is the friendly face guiding you through flavorful, fuss-free recipes at Picture Perfect Meals. 

He studied culinary arts at Sullivan University and embraced Baking and Pastry Arts at White Mountains Community College. Daves specializes in comforting meals with vibrant flavors, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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