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Strawberry Crunch Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 138 reviews

Strawberry Crunch Cookies are a delightful treat combining the classic soft cookie texture with the vibrant flavor of freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry cake mix. These cookies feature a buttery dough studded with crushed freeze-dried strawberries and topped with a crunchy mixture of graham crackers and melted butter, delivering a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup (240 ml) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (150 g) freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
  • 1 cup (150 g) strawberry cake mix

Crunch Topping

  • Crushed freeze-dried strawberries (amount relative to taste, approximate 1/3 cup)
  • Crushed graham crackers (approximately 1 cup)
  • Melted butter (about 3 tablespoons)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a mixer, cream the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar for 3-5 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which is essential for a tender cookie texture.
  3. Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure even distribution and proper emulsification.
  4. Add Vanilla: Stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract to enhance the cookie’s aroma and flavor complexity.
  5. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until uniformly mixed. This helps to leaven and season the dough.
  6. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to prevent overworking the dough which can cause toughness.
  7. Fold in Strawberry Components: Gently fold in crushed freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry cake mix evenly throughout the dough for bursts of strawberry flavor and color.
  8. Shape Dough: Using a scoop or spoon, form rounded balls of dough and place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
  9. Add Extra Strawberry Topping: Optionally, sprinkle additional crushed freeze-dried strawberries atop each cookie dough ball prior to baking for enhanced crunch and strawberry bursts.
  10. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the cookie edges turn golden and the centers appear set but still soft.
  11. Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing breakage.
  12. Prepare Crunch Topping: In a small bowl, mix crushed freeze-dried strawberries, crushed graham crackers, and melted butter until the mixture is crumbly and holds together when pressed.
  13. Apply Crunch Topping: Press the strawberry-cracker crunch topping firmly onto the top of each cooled cookie to add texture and flavor contrast.
  14. Storage: Store the finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh and flavorful for up to one week.

Notes

  • Ensure butter is softened but not melted for better creaming results.
  • Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep cookies tender.
  • Freeze-dried strawberries provide intense flavor without adding moisture, helping cookies maintain a good texture.
  • You can substitute strawberry cake mix with strawberry gelatin powder if unavailable, adjusting sweetness as needed.
  • For extra crunch, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
  • These cookies can be frozen after baking; thaw at room temperature before serving.

Keywords: strawberry cookies, crunch cookies, freeze-dried strawberries, strawberry dessert, buttery cookies, berry cookies

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/strawberry-crunch-cookies-recipe/