These Strawberry Lemonade Cookies are a perfect blend of sweet, tart, and tangy! Made with a thick, soft lemon sugar cookie base and topped with bright strawberry buttercream frosting, each bite tastes like a sip of fresh strawberry lemonade on a sunny day. With a texture that’s a cross between a chewy Crumbl cookie and a cakey Lofthouse favorite, these cookies are ideal for summer gatherings, brunch spreads, or just as a sweet treat to brighten your day.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
Lemon Sugar Cookies
• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp (42g) vegetable or canola oil
• 1 large egg + 1 large yolk
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp (10g) cornstarch
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
Strawberry Buttercream
• 1½ cups (33g) freeze-dried strawberries
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2½ cups (300g) powdered sugar
• ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
For Decorating
• Extra freeze-dried strawberries (crushed)
• Lemon zest
Directions
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Make Lemon Sugar Cookie Dough
Melt the butter and let it cool. Combine sugar and lemon zest, rubbing with fingers to release oils. Whisk together butter, lemon sugar, oil, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla until lightened. Stir in flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt using a spatula. Chill dough for 30 minutes. -
Bake Cookies
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop 3 tbsp portions, roll into balls, and place on lined baking sheets 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten each dough ball. Bake for 12–13 minutes until edges are golden and centers are set. Let cool completely. -
Prepare Strawberry Buttercream
Grind freeze-dried strawberries into powder. In a mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add strawberry powder, powdered sugar, cream, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Beat until creamy and smooth. -
Decorate Cookies
Top each cooled cookie with a dollop of buttercream. Spread with an offset spatula or spoon, swirling for a decorative touch. Finish with crushed freeze-dried strawberries and lemon zest.
Nutrients (Per cookie, estimated for 15 servings)
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Calories: ~365 kcal
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Fat: 20g
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Saturated Fat: 12g
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Carbohydrates: 43g
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Sugar: 27g
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Protein: 3g
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Fiber: 1g
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Sodium: 90mg
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Cholesterol: 55mg
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Vitamin C: 6mg
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Calcium: 30mg
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Iron: 1mg
The Perfect Sugar Cookie Base: Soft Yet Structured
At the heart of this cookie is a lemon-infused sugar cookie that’s thick, chewy, and tender. The dough is enriched with real lemon zest and juice, giving it a fresh citrus note that’s noticeable but never overpowering. Unlike crisp sugar cookies, this version leans more toward a soft, slightly cakey texture—somewhere between a classic Crumbl cookie and a nostalgic Lofthouse cookie.
This base is structured enough to support the generous swirl of frosting but soft enough to melt in your mouth. The balance of oil and butter adds both richness and moisture, while cornstarch in the dough helps create that signature bakery-style softness. These cookies don’t spread too much in the oven, keeping their round, thick shape ideal for frosting.
Every bite is rich but balanced, with a texture that’s indulgent yet light enough to keep you reaching for another.
Lemon: Bright, Tangy, and Essential
Lemon plays a starring role in the sugar cookie base and offers more than just flavor—it lifts the richness of the dough with acidity and balances out the sweetness of the frosting. The combination of lemon zest and juice brings out the natural citrus oils, providing a fresh aroma and zing that permeates the cookie without overwhelming it.
This lemony backdrop creates the perfect foil for the strawberry topping, helping to create the “lemonade” feel. The freshness of the lemon brightens the entire dessert, making it ideal for spring and summer, when lighter flavors take center stage.
Strawberry Buttercream: The Sweet Strawberry Swirl
No Strawberry Lemonade Cookie is complete without the strawberry buttercream frosting—a soft, pink swirl that turns each cookie into a mini masterpiece. Unlike artificial-tasting frostings made with flavor extracts or syrups, this one uses freeze-dried strawberries, which are pulverized into a powder and beaten directly into the butter.
This method infuses the frosting with intense, real fruit flavor, while maintaining a smooth, pipeable texture. The addition of lemon juice ties the whole theme together, adding tang to the frosting and emphasizing that classic lemonade pairing. The buttercream is whipped until fluffy and creamy, spreading easily across the top of each cooled cookie for a luxurious finish.
It’s sweet, fruity, and just tart enough to keep the cookie from becoming cloying. Each bite feels balanced and refreshing, like a sip of cold strawberry lemonade on a hot day.
Crumbl Meets Lofthouse: A Cookie Hybrid Worth Celebrating
Fans of iconic cookie styles will appreciate how this recipe marries two favorites. From Crumbl cookies, it borrows the generous size, thickness, and bakery-style look. From Lofthouse cookies, it takes the soft, tender bite and the dreamy frosting topping.
The result is a cookie hybrid that’s indulgent yet approachable. You get the rich, satisfying chew of a Crumbl-style cookie with the familiar, frosted appeal of a grocery store classic—but elevated in every way. These cookies feel homemade and nostalgic while also looking like they came from a specialty bakery.
They’re large enough to share (or not), visually impressive, and always a hit at parties, baby showers, birthdays, or bake sales.
Decorative Finishes That Make It Pop
A sprinkle of crushed freeze-dried strawberries and lemon zest on top of the frosting adds both color and flavor. These finishing touches create texture, enhance the visual appeal, and reinforce the cookie’s flavor identity without overpowering the balance.
If you’re serving them for a special occasion, you can get creative with presentation. Add edible flowers for a tea party, drizzle with white chocolate for a dessert tray, or top each cookie with a small slice of fresh strawberry for an extra pop. They look beautiful stacked on platters or arranged individually in treat bags for gifting.
No matter how you style them, these cookies are undeniably photogenic—perfect for social media, party tables, or edible gift boxes.
Ideal for Summer and Seasonal Gatherings
Strawberry Lemonade Cookies shine brightest during the spring and summer months, when fresh fruit flavors are in high demand. Their citrus and berry profile is refreshing and bright, making them the perfect counterpoint to heavier desserts.
They’re also incredibly portable and picnic-friendly. Unlike delicate cakes or melting pies, these cookies hold up well when stacked or transported. Their individual size makes them ideal for parties or grab-and-go situations, and they stay soft for days when stored properly in an airtight container.
You can serve them at brunches, bridal showers, 4th of July cookouts, or just as a pick-me-up snack during the week. Wherever they go, they’re guaranteed to stand out.
Customizable for Different Diets
With a few simple tweaks, these cookies can be adapted for different dietary needs. Use a plant-based butter and non-dairy cream to make a dairy-free version of the buttercream, or try a vegan egg substitute in the cookie dough if needed. Gluten-free flour blends that include xanthan gum can also be used successfully for a wheat-free batch.
The bright flavors and soft texture of the cookie lend themselves well to these modifications, so everyone can enjoy this sunny treat—regardless of dietary restrictions.
Balanced Flavor with Nutritional Awareness
While these cookies are certainly indulgent, they offer more than just empty calories. The use of real lemon juice, zest, and freeze-dried strawberries ensures the flavors are fresh and natural. The cookie isn’t overloaded with sugar, and the buttercream is whipped to a light, fluffy finish that satisfies without feeling too rich.
Each cookie delivers a generous serving of sweetness and nostalgia, but they’re also portioned to be enjoyed one at a time, making them easy to incorporate into a balanced lifestyle.
Conclusion: A Sweet Celebration in Every Bite
Strawberry Lemonade Cookies are a joyful fusion of flavor, texture, and seasonal charm. From the zingy lemon sugar cookie base to the rich, fruity strawberry buttercream topping, these cookies deliver the perfect balance of sweet and tart in every bite. They look beautiful, taste like summer, and are easy enough to bake at home without sacrificing a bit of wow factor.
Whether you’re looking to brighten someone’s day or treat yourself to a bakery-style dessert, these cookies deliver. They bring sunshine to any table and smiles to any face, making them a go-to recipe for celebrations big and small.
Once you try them, they’re bound to become a favorite—one of those recipes you reach for when you want something simple, special, and absolutely unforgettable.
