Strawberry Frosted Chocolate Sugar Cookies

These easy strawberry frosted chocolate sugar cookies are the perfect Valentine's day dessert recipe.  Soft chocolate sugar cookies are topped with a luscious strawberry frosting, a cookie version of a chocolate covered strawberry ;).

Valentine's day is only a few days away and I wanted to surprise the kids with these easy strawberry frosted chocolate sugar cookies.

They're soft chocolate sugar cookies topped with strawberry buttercream frosting.

I baked them into heart shapes for Valentine's day but you could certainly use any shape you'd prefer.

They came out SO cute and they're the perfect treats for the kids on Valentine's.

I think the secret weapon for that bursting strawberry flavor is by using freeze dried strawberries in both the cookie dough and frosting.

In my opinion a good sugar cookie is soft and melts in your mouth AND is topped with some type of frosting.

I wanted to try a chocolate sugar cookie because chocolate + strawberry on Valentine's day is like the ultimate combination.

Autumn loved her heart shaped cookie so much, she tried to walk around with it (not eating it of course), to savor it as long as possible.

However, her brother (being the boy he is), couldn't help himself from knocking into her which made her heart cookie fall and break.

This was heartbreaking (literally) for Autumn which of course deserved another whole cookie to hold on to until I finally convinced her the cookies are way better eaten rather than walking around the house with.

Autumn finally agreed to just eat the cookie and long story short, I had to hide the container of cookies so we didn't eat them all in one night ;).

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Ingredients:

• butter
• granulated sugar
• egg yolk
• vanilla extract
• all purpose flour
• unsweetened cocoa 
• salt
• freeze dried strawberry powder

(The chocolate cookie recipe is adapted from "1001 cupcakes, cookies & other tempting treats")

You can find freeze dried strawberries at pretty much any major grocery store.  They're usually in the snack aisle or where the nuts/trail mixes are.

To make the strawberry powder simply place the freeze dried strawberries in your food processor and process until a fine powder.

Alternatively, you can place them in a zip lock bag and smash until superfine.

Strawberry Frosting Ingredients:

• butter
• powdered sugar
• freeze dried strawberry powder
• salt
• vanilla extract
• milk/cream

How to make Strawberry Frosted Chocolate Sugar Cookies:

1. Make your chocolate sugar cookie dough: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with paddle attachment, add butter and granulated sugar.  Beat together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
2. Add in egg yolk and vanilla extract, beat until combined.
3. Add in flour, cocoa powder, strawberry powder and salt.  Mix until combined.  (The mixture will look crumbly but should hold it's shape when squeezed).
4. Lightly dust a clean work surface and empty dough on top.  Form into a ball with your hands.  Divide dough in half, place each half in plastic wrap and shape into two discs.  Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.
5. Roll and shape your cookie dough:  Preheat oven to 375 F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Remove dough from refrigerator.  Working with one disc at a time, place on a lightly floured surface.  Dust top with flour and roll to about ¼" thick (use more flour if the dough starts sticking).  Use cookie cutter to cut into shapes and place about 2" apart.  Reroll remaining dough and repeat until all dough is used.  Repeat again with second disc of cookie dough.
7. Bake cookies for about 10-12 minutes or until firm.  Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
8. Let cool completely before frosting.
9. Make your strawberry frosting: in large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add butter, powdered sugar, strawberry powder and salt.  Beat until combined.  Add in vanilla extract and milk.  Beat again for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.  Add more milk if needed if frosting seems too thick.
10. Once cookies have cooled completely, frost with strawberry buttercream and top with sprinkles or extra strawberry powder.  Enjoy!

Tips for making soft strawberry frosted chocolate sugar cookies:

• Don't overmix the cookie dough.  It should look crumbly but will hold it's shape when squeezed together.
• Make sure you don't skip chilling the dough.  The chilling will allow the cookies to hold their shape when baked.
• Be sure to roll the cookies out to about ¼" thick.  You don't want them too thin or they'll be hard to cut out and may burn in the oven.
• Make sure cookies are completely cooled before frosting!  Also make sure frosting is room temperature and not cold or it won't be easy to spread onto cookies.

How to store chocolate sugar cookies?

These cookies can be stored in airtight container once frosted and left at room temperature for up to 5 days.  

You can also keep them in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, but they may not stay as soft.

Plain or frosted cookies can be stored in an airtight container layered in parchment paper in the freezer for up to 3 months.

For more Valentine's Day recipes try:

Sparkling Strawberry Rosé Cocktail

Chocolate Red Wine Filled Cupcakes

Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board

Whipped Brie with Roasted Strawberries

Don't forget to leave me a comment or star rating below if you give this recipe a try, I always love to hear your feedback!