Strawberry frosted lemon cookies are sweet, tart, and full of bright berry and citrus flavor. This cookie recipe is easy to make and is the perfect dessert to add to your spring or summer baking list!
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine and massage the granulated sugar and lemon zest to release the natural lemon oils. This enhances the lemon flavor in the cookies. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the unsalted butter, vegetable oil, powdered sugar, and lemon-infused granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add in the egg and lemon juice and mix until smooth. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until a soft cookie dough forms.
Portion the cookie dough using a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) and place on the prepared baking sheet pan, allowing room for spreading. Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes until the cookies puff up in the center and remain pale on the edges. Cool the cookies on the pan for 1 minute and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Easy Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the unsalted butter for 5 minutes until light and creamy.
Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on the lowest speed setting until fully combined. Add the remaining powdered sugar and continue to mix on low until fully incorporated.
Use a blender or a food processor to grind the freeze-dried strawberries into a fine powder. Then, add in the freeze-dried strawberry powder and mix on low speed until well incorporated.
Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix on low until combined. Slowly drizzle in the heavy cream while mixing on low speed. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure the frosting is well mixed.
Increase the speed on the mixer to medium and whip the buttercream for about 2 to 3 minutes until it is smooth and creamy. Turn the mixer to low speed and mix the buttercream for several minutes to remove any air bubbles.
Frosting the Cookies
Fill a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1A piping tip with the strawberry frosting. Pipe a swirl of the frosting onto the cookies and spread the frosting with an offset spatula. Decorate the cookies with finely chopped freeze-dried strawberries and lemon zest.
Notes
Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container or resealable storage bag at room temperature for 1 to 2 days or in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.Baking Tips & FAQ: Scroll up the blog post to check out my expert baking tips, learn more about storing and serving, and to see frequently asked questions to make the most out of this recipe! Baking Tools & Supplies: Check out my Amazon Storefront to see my favorite tools and supplies I use to create my recipes.Note:Metric conversions and nutritional information are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.