Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies Recipe
These Strawberry Pop Tart Sugar Cookies combine the delightful flavors of classic sugar cookies with a sweet strawberry jam filling, reminiscent of beloved pop tarts. Soft, buttery, and slightly crumbly with a luscious fruity center, these cookies are perfect for snacking, gifting, or serving at parties. The optional almond extract and decorative sprinkles add an extra special touch to these homemade treats.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Filling and Decoration
- ¾ cup strawberry jam or preserves
- Sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream butter and sugars. In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with both granulated and powdered sugars until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which should take about 3 to 4 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender cookie texture.
- Add eggs and extracts. Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, ensuring each is fully combined before adding the next. Then stir in the vanilla extract and, if using, the almond extract to add depth of flavor.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until everything is combined, being careful not to overmix to maintain cookie tenderness.
- Form cookie discs and create wells. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Flatten each ball into a 2-inch disk, then gently create a small well in the center to hold the jam filling later.
- Fill with strawberry jam. Place approximately 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam into the well on half of the cookie discs, ensuring not to overfill to prevent leaking during baking.
- Seal cookies and crimp edges. Top each jam-filled cookie with one of the remaining plain dough discs. Press around the edges to seal tightly and crimp with a fork for both decoration and to secure the filling inside.
- Bake the cookies. Arrange the prepared cookies on the lined baking sheets and bake them in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn a light golden color.
- Cool and decorate. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. For an optional finishing touch, drizzle with a simple icing made from powdered sugar and milk, then decorate with sprinkles for festive flair.
Notes
- You can substitute almond extract with additional vanilla extract if preferred.
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and better texture.
- Refrigerate the dough if it becomes too soft to handle.
- Use good-quality strawberry jam for the best flavor impact.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a thicker icing, adjust the amount of milk gradually to achieve desired consistency.
Keywords: Strawberry pop tart cookies, sugar cookies, homemade pop tart cookies, strawberry jam cookies, easy baking recipe, jam filled cookies
