Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means – baking! There’s something so incredibly special about a homemade treat, especially when it’s made with love for your favorite people. This year, I’m beyond excited to share my recipe for Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day. They’re perfectly sweet, a little bit cute, and honestly, they come together surprisingly fast! I remember making a similar jam-filled cookie years ago, and the smiles on everyone’s faces when they took that first bite was just priceless. This version, with that delightful strawberry kiss in the middle? Oh, it’s a winner, folks!
Why You’ll Love These Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day
Trust me, you’re going to go nuts for these cookies! They’re:
- Super Easy to Make: Seriously, you can whip these up in no time. Perfect for when you’re busy but want that homemade touch.
- Irresistibly Delicious: That buttery cookie with a sweet strawberry center is just divine.
- Festively Adorable: The pop of red or pink makes them look so special for Valentine’s Day.
- Made with Love: Nothing says “I care” quite like a batch of homemade, Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day.
Ingredients for Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day
Alright, let’s get our ingredients lined up for these adorable Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day! You probably have most of this in your pantry already, which is always a good sign, right? Here’s what we’ll need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: Make sure it’s nice and soft, not melted!
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar: For that perfect sweetness.
- 2 large eggs: Room temperature is best, trust me.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: The classic flavor enhancer.
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract: This is our little secret for a fancy taste!
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour: The base of our cookie.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: To help them spread just right.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances out all that sweetness.
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam or preserves: This is our yummy “kiss”!
- Red or pink food coloring (optional): If you want that extra Valentine’s pop!
Essential Equipment for Baking
Okay, so you don’t need a whole professional bakery setup for these! Just a few basics will do the trick. You’ll want a couple of sturdy mixing bowls, a good whisk for the dry stuff, and a trusty electric mixer (or a strong arm and a wooden spoon!). Oh, and definitely grab some parchment paper for your baking sheets – it makes cleanup a breeze! A small spoon or even your thumb will be perfect for making those little wells for the jam.
Step-by-Step Guide to Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day
Alright, let’s get down to business and make these absolutely darling Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day! Don’t be intimidated, they’re really quite straightforward, and the results are just *chef’s kiss*! If you’re looking for other simple holiday baking ideas, you might want to check out a few easy 3-ingredient Christmas cookies or even some fun Christmas tree meringue pops. But for now, let’s focus on these sweethearts!
Preparing the Cookie Dough
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (that’s 175°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This is a game-changer for cleanup, trust me! In a big bowl, we’re going to cream together that softened butter and the sugar. You want it nice and light and fluffy – this is where a lot of that lovely texture comes from. Then, beat in your eggs one by one, making sure they’re fully incorporated before adding the next. Now, stir in that vanilla and almond extract. Oh, that almond extract is just a little bit of magic, isn’t it? In a separate bowl, give your flour, baking soda, and salt a whisk. This just makes sure everything is evenly distributed. Gradually add these dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing until it’s *just* combined. Don’t overmix here! If you’re feeling festive and want that pretty pink or red color, now’s the time to add a few drops of food coloring and gently mix it in until you get an even hue.
Shaping and Filling the Cookies
Now for the fun part – shaping! Roll your dough into little 1-inch balls. Think about the size of a large walnut, similar to how you’d start off soft-baked maple brown sugar cookies. Place them on your prepared baking sheets, giving them a little space, about 2 inches apart, because they will spread a bit. Time to make that signature “kiss”! Using your thumb or the back of a tiny spoon, gently press an indentation right into the center of each cookie. Don’t go all the way through! This little well is where all the yummy jam goes. Spoon just a tiny bit of your strawberry jam or preserves into each little dip. You don’t want too much, or it’ll bubble over!
Baking and Cooling Your Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Into the oven they go! Bake these beauties for about 10 to 12 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be just lightly golden. Keep an eye on them, as ovens can be a little tricky! Once they’re done, let them hang out on the baking sheets for a few minutes. This is important! They’re still a bit delicate right out of the oven. After they’ve cooled a bit, carefully transfer them over to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here, but oh so worth it!
Tips for Perfect Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Okay, so you’ve got the basic idea, but let me spill some of my favorite secrets for making these Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day absolutely *perfect* every single time. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years, like how small tweaks can make a big difference! If you love thumbprint cookies, you’ll probably adore these white chocolate raspberry thumbprint cookies too. And for another fun holiday vibe, these Christmas red velvet crinkle cookies are always a hit!
First off, don’t skip creaming that butter and sugar properly! It really does make a world of difference in the texture. You want it light and fluffy, not just mixed. And for the jam, make sure it’s not too runny. If your favorite preserves are a bit loose, you can simmer them for a few minutes to thicken them up a bit. This helps prevent them from totally oozing out of the cookie while baking.
Also, when you’re making that little thumbprint, don’t press too hard or too thin. You want a nice little cup for that jammy kiss, but you don’t want to break through the bottom of the cookie. And remember, always bake on parchment paper – it’s your best friend for easy cleanup and preventing sticking!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Let’s chat about a couple of these ingredients because they really matter for getting these Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day just right. Using unsalted butter is usually my go-to because it lets me control the salt level perfectly, but if you only have salted butter, just reduce the salt in the recipe by about 1/4 teaspoon. And that almond extract? Oh, it’s a game-changer! It adds a subtle, fancy note that really makes these cookies special. If you’re not a fan or can’t find it, you can simply add a little more vanilla extract, but the almond really is lovely.
For the jam, feel free to use your favorite strawberry preserves! If you’re feeling adventurous, raspberry or even a mixed berry jam would be delicious too. Just make sure it’s not too watery, or it might make the cookie a bit soggy. If your jam is on the runnier side, you can always simmer it gently for a few minutes to thicken it up before filling the cookies.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
The best part about these Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day is how easy they are to prep ahead! You can totally make the dough a day in advance and just keep it wrapped up tight in the fridge. Then, just let it soften for about 15 minutes before you roll and bake. Once they’re baked and totally cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay super yummy for about 3 days, which is usually all we need before they disappear! Kind of like how my hot chocolate brownies are gone in a flash, or how my old-fashioned banana bread never lasts long!
Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Got questions about these delightful Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day? I’ve got you covered! People always ask me a few things, and I’m happy to share my tips.
Can I use a different type of jam for these cookies?
Absolutely! While strawberry is in the name, feel free to get creative with other jams or preserves. Raspberry, apricot, or even a nice cherry preserve would be absolutely delicious. Just make sure the jam isn’t too thin; a thicker consistency works best to stay put without making the cookie soggy. It’s all about finding that perfect little pocket of fruity goodness!
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
Oh, cookie spread! It’s a common baking puzzle. Usually, if your cookies are spreading too much, it could be a few things. Make sure your butter wasn’t too soft or melted when you started creaming it. Also, don’t over mix the dough after adding the flour – that can develop the gluten too much. Chilling the dough for a bit before baking can sometimes help too, especially if your kitchen is on the warmer side!
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
These Make Delicious Strawberry Kiss Cookies For Valentine Day are pretty good at staying fresh for a few days! Once they’re completely cooled, just pop them into an airtight container. They should keep nicely at room temperature for about 3 to 4 days. They tend to disappear pretty quickly, though, so you might not even need to worry about them lasting that long!
Nutritional Information
Just a little heads-up, the nutritional info below is an estimate folks! It can totally vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands you use. But generally, one of these yummy cookies will have around 150 calories, about 8g of fat, and 12g of sugar. It’s a sweet treat, after all!
Share Your Valentine’s Day Creations!
I just *know* you’re going to have so much fun making these Strawberry Kiss Cookies! Once you’ve whipped up a batch, I’d absolutely love to hear all about it! Did you try them with raspberry jam instead? Did the kids help? Drop a comment below, rate the recipe, or even tag me in your photos on social media – seeing your delicious creations makes my day! If you have any extra thoughts or questions, feel free to reach out via my contact page!