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A close-up of a colorful stack of three lemon strawberry cookies drizzled with white icing and served on a square white plate.

Strawberry Lemonade Cookies

Bright and zesty, these Strawberry Lemonade Cookies capture the refreshing essence of your favorite summer drink in a delightful, chewy cookie with a tangy glaze. Perfect for a sunny treat!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 17 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 1/4 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 cup Unsalted butter softened, room temperature
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 large Egg room temperature
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp Lemon zest from 2-3 large lemons
  • 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup Freeze-dried strawberries crushed into small pieces or powder
For the Glaze
  • 1 1/2 cups Powdered sugar sifted
  • 3-4 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
  • 1-2 tbsp Strawberry puree from fresh strawberries, or 1/2 tsp strawberry extract + 1 drop red food coloring for vibrancy

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Electric Mixer (stand or hand)
  • Medium Mixing Bowl
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Zester or microplane
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment Paper
  • Small bowl for glaze
  • Whisk
  • Wire cooling rack

Method
 

Prepare the Cookie Dough
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice until well combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
  5. Gently fold in the crushed freeze-dried strawberries using a rubber spatula.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent spreading.
Bake the Cookies
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Scoop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough (or use a 1.5-inch cookie scoop) and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  3. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set. They may look slightly underbaked in the middle, but will firm up as they cool.
  4. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Glaze and Finish
  1. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, and strawberry puree (or extract + food coloring) until smooth. Add more lemon juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a pourable but not too thin consistency.
  2. Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle or spread the strawberry lemonade glaze over each cookie. Let the glaze set for about 15-20 minutes before serving or storing.

Notes

For the strawberry puree, blend a few fresh strawberries and strain to remove seeds. Freeze-dried strawberries are key for intense flavor and texture without adding excess moisture, ensuring a chewier cookie. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.