The tradition of strawberry kiss cookies began in our home one February afternoon when my daughter came home from kindergarten in tears. “Everyone’s bringing fancy Valentine’s treats tomorrow,” she whispered, “and I forgot to tell you.”
With just hours until bedtime and no time for a store run, I opened my pantry and spied a jar of strawberry preserves. “Let’s make something even better than store-bought,” I promised, pulling out butter to soften. Together we created these pretty pink-centered cookies that became the hit of her class party.
Years later, my now-teenage daughter still requests these cookies each February. “They taste like love,” she says, which might sound overly sentimental coming from anyone else, but feels perfectly true when you bite into one of these sweet, tender treats with their kiss of strawberry in the center.
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Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Kiss Cookies
These pretty strawberry kiss cookies have become a tradition in our family for good reason. Here’s why you’ll want to make them part of your recipe collection:
- Charming appearance: The pretty pink centers create an instant “wow” factor
- Versatile occasion cookie: Perfect for Valentine’s Day, spring celebrations, or tea parties
- Simple techniques: No complicated decorating skills required
- Make-ahead friendly: Can be prepared in stages to fit busy schedules
- Customizable options: Works with various fruit fillings for different color effects
- Kid-friendly baking project: Little hands can help with almost every step
While perfect for special occasions, these cookies are simple enough for everyday baking. For more cookie inspiration beyond these strawberry kiss cookies, visit our Cookie Creations: Family-Favorite Cookie Recipes collection.
If you enjoy these pretty cookies, you might also love our Peanut Butter Cookies for a classic treat, or our Churro Cheesecake Donut Cookies for something extra special.
Simple Ingredients for Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Show Image Simple pantry ingredients plus strawberry filling create these charming pink-centered cookies – ready in just 15 minutes of prep time!
For these strawberry kiss cookies, you’ll need:
For the cookie dough:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla extract)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam or preserves
For the strawberry frosting center:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1-2 tablespoons strawberry jam
- 1-2 teaspoons milk (if needed for consistency)
- 2-3 drops red food coloring (optional, for brighter pink color)
My grandmother always said, “The fresher the butter, the better the cookie.” This recipe, with its short ingredient list, really showcases the quality of your butter. I use unsalted so I can control the exact amount of salt in the recipe.
For more sweet treats perfect for celebrations, try our Stuffed Lemon Cookies or explore our Special Occasion Desserts collection for more festive ideas.
Easy Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. This temperature creates cookies with the perfect texture – slightly crisp edges with tender centers.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Don’t rush this step! My grandmother always said the creaming process is where good cookies begin.
- Add almond extract and mix until incorporated. I prefer almond extract for its subtle flavor that complements the strawberry, but vanilla works beautifully too if that’s what you have on hand.
- Gradually add flour and salt, mixing just until combined. The dough should come together but not be sticky. My youngest always wants to keep mixing, but I gently remind him that overmixing makes tough cookies.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. My children take this job very seriously, comparing each ball for perfect uniformity.
- Create an indentation in each cookie using your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon. My daughter calls this the “cookie cradle” – the perfect nest for our strawberry filling.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just barely golden. The cookies should not brown too much – we want them pale and tender.
- Remove from oven and gently re-press the indentations if they’ve puffed up during baking. This ensures plenty of room for our strawberry filling.
- Cool completely on wire racks before filling. Patience is difficult but necessary – filling warm cookies will result in melted, messy centers!
- Prepare strawberry frosting by beating powdered sugar, butter, and strawberry jam until smooth and creamy. Add a drop or two of milk if needed for piping consistency.
- Fill the center of each cookie with strawberry frosting using a piping bag or small spoon. My son likes to count how many cookies he can fill before needing more frosting.
The entire process takes about 45 minutes total, including baking time, making these strawberry kiss cookies perfect for a weekend baking project with children.
My Best Tips for Perfect Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Through many batches of these cookies (some more picture-perfect than others!), I’ve gathered several tips for consistent success:
For the prettiest centers: Use a piping bag with a star tip for the frosting centers. The textured appearance creates a more professional look. My daughter learned this technique for her 4-H presentation and now insists we do it this way every time.
For make-ahead convenience: The unfilled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Add the filling just before serving for the freshest presentation.
For flavor variation: Try different jam flavors in both the cookie indentation and frosting. Raspberry creates a deeper pink color, while apricot offers a pretty orange hue perfect for spring celebrations.
For gift-giving: These cookies travel well when completely set. Place them in a single layer in a decorative tin separated by parchment paper. My children’s teachers have come to expect these as Valentine’s gifts each year.
For a classic cookie collection, check our Homemade Dessert Recipes guide or try our Chocolate Chip Cookies for an everyday favorite.
Answers to Your Strawberry Kiss Cookie Questions
Q: Can I use strawberry jam instead of making frosting for the centers? Yes! While the frosting creates a more stable filling that won’t soak into the cookie, jam works for a quicker version. Warm the jam slightly and strain out any large pieces of fruit for the smoothest finish.
Q: How do I store these cookies? Store in an airtight container at room temperature with wax paper between layers for up to 5 days. The centers will stay soft while the cookies remain tender.
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time? Absolutely! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.
For more colorful cookie ideas, check our Subway Footlong Cookie or No-Bake & Quick Treats collection for simple dessert alternatives.
Strawberry Kiss Cookies: Celebrating Little Moments
These strawberry kiss cookies have become more than just a Valentine’s tradition in our home. They’ve become our family’s way of marking moments that need a little extra sweetness.
When my son didn’t make the baseball team, these appeared on a plate after dinner. When my daughter received her college acceptance letter, a batch celebrated her achievement. My husband has learned that finding these cookies on the counter means something in our day deserves special recognition.
“Food remembers the moments our minds forget,” my grandmother used to say. These pretty pink-centered cookies have become our family’s edible memory-keepers, turning ordinary days into celebrations worth remembering.
I hope these strawberry kiss cookies bring your family as much joy as they’ve brought to mine. Whether for Valentine’s Day or any day needing a little extra love, they’re a simple way to say what sometimes words cannot.
With warmth, Sophia
Strawberry Kiss Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla extract)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam or preserves
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1-2 tablespoons strawberry jam
- 1-2 teaspoons milk (if needed for consistency)
- 2-3 drops red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add almond extract and mix until incorporated.
- Gradually add flour and salt, mixing just until combined.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Create an indentation in each cookie using your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just barely golden.
- Remove from oven and gently re-press the indentations if they've puffed up during baking.
- Cool completely on wire racks before filling
- For strawberry frosting, beat powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and strawberry jam until smooth and creamy. Add milk if needed for piping consistency.
- Fill the center of each cookie with strawberry frosting using a piping bag or small spoon.