These Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies are super light and with the freeze dried strawberries inside and dusted on top, they have an intense strawberry flavor. They are the perfect cookie to serve to brighten anyone’s day.
Ever since I was a kid, strawberries have been one of my favorite fruits. I mean how could you not like them. They are sweet and juicy and full of flavor, basically the perfect bite.
Every year when late Spring rolls around we get in the car and make our way to our local farm and spend a hour or two and pick the sweetest strawberries that you will ever taste. There is nothing like a fresh picked strawberry.
With this recipe though I don’t use the fresh picked strawberries of spring but instead I use freeze dried strawberries. Freeze dried strawberries have an intense strawberry flavor and make the perfect addition to this cookie, keeping it light and crispy. With the addition of the freeze dried strawberry dust on the outside, it makes that strawberry flavor unmistakable.
How To Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
To the bowl of a stand mixer add the softened butter and cream cheese. Mix at medium speed until combined.
Add 2 cups granulated sugar and continue beating until incorporated.
Add the eggs and pure vanilla extract and continue mixing until light and fluffy
In a separate medium bowl whisk together the flour and baking powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and cream cheese mixture and mix until combined
Add the freeze dried strawberries and mix until just combined, making sure not to over mix. Over mixing will result in a more dense cookie.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 to 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Place 1 cup of freeze dried strawberries in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until a fine powder is formed. Pour 3/4 cup of powdered freeze dried strawberries into a small bowl along with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and whisk to combine.
Remove dough from the refrigerator. Scoop a small amount of cookie dough using a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon and roll into a ball. Roll each ball in the powdered freeze dried strawberries and sugar mixture then place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough until complete.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly golden brown around the edges.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Place the remaining freeze dried strawberries in a sifter and dust the tops of the cooled cookies with the strawberry dust to garnish, then serve.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup unsalted butter ( 1 stick ) softened
- 1 ( 8 oz. ) Package of cream cheese softened
- 2 1/4 Cups granulated sugar divided
- 1 Egg
- 1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- 3 Cups freeze dried strawberries, divided
Instructions:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer beat together butter and cream cheese until completely combined. Add 2 cups granulated sugar and continue beating for 1 to 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- In a separate medium bowl whisk together the all purpose flour and baking powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and cream cheese mixture and beat on low until incorporated.
- Add 2 cups of freeze dried strawberries and mix until incorporated, being careful not to overmix, you want your cookies to be tender. Remove dough from mixing bowl and place on a piece of plastic wrap and cover tightly. Store dough in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours to chill.
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- To the bowl of a food processor add the remaining cup of freeze dried strawberries and pulse until a dust is formed. Remove 3/4 of a cup of pulverized strawberries from the processor and place in a small bowl along with 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, whisk together and set aside.
- Remove dough from the refrigerator. Scoop out a small amount of dough using a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon. Roll the dough between the palm of your hands to form a ball. Roll the ball of dough in the powdered freeze dried strawberry sugar mixture and turn to coat. Place coated dough ball on the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with all dough until complete. Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges have slightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Place remaining 1/4 cup of powdered freeze dried strawberries in a sifter and dust the tops of the cooled cookies to garnish, then serve.
- Enjoy.