Classic chocolate chip cookies are great on their own, and they’re also a great jumping-off point to add your own creative spin. In my Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies, I’ve added 2 extra elements to the classic that add major fun and flavor. Freeze-dried strawberries give these cookies their fresh berry flavor. They absorb a little liquid as they mix and add a fun textural element. A little almond extract enhances the berry and chocolate combination. Try this fun chocolate chip cookie twist and let me know what you think!
Ingredient Notes:
Chocolate Chips: Feel free to use any chocolate chip that you like. I suggest and prefer semi-sweet (or even dark) to balance the sweetness.
Freeze-Dried Strawberries: Freeze dried strawberries are different than dried strawberries. While dried strawberries are chewy and sweet, freeze dried are completely dry and will crumble to powder when you squeeze them. Using freeze dried berries gives you all of the flavor without any unwanted moisture that would interfere with that perfect chocolate chip cookie texture! Look for freeze dried berries in near the dried fruits or in the health food aisle of the grocery store. Sometimes these options can be smaller packages (so you might need several to get enough berries for the recipe). My favorite is to buy a #10 cans of freeze dried strawberries. You can find these on Amazon, and they sell this same brand and size at Walmart in-store. You’ll find these in an aisle with other bulk and freeze dried foods. Other grocers may sell something similar- I’ve purchased them in large cans at WinCo at the past as well.
Almond Extract: Pure or imitation works just fine. We have tree nut allergies at my house so I always use imitation!
Butter: I use real butter in my baking, but this recipe works well with butter flavored shortening, or half butter, half shortening. You are welcome to experiment with other butter alternatives as well, but I haven’t tested any.
Make the Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Start by creaming the butter and both brown and white sugar.
- Add eggs and also a generous amount of almond extract. Almond extract and berries are a natural pairing that really enhance each other’s flavors.
3. Add Chocolate Chips. You can use any kind of chocolate; I prefer dark or semi-sweet in most cookies to balance the sweetness.
4. Add your freeze-dried strawberries. You can’t very successfully add fresh berries to cookies because the extra moisture is just too much, but freeze-dried will absorb some of the moisture in the dough and plump up, adding both flavor and texture. You can buy freeze-dried strawberries in most grocery stores these days, or even on Amazon! If you don’t see them with the other dried fruits, check the health-food aisle, or the aisle with other freeze-dried foods.
5. Drop dough onto baking sheets and place a few extra chocolate chips on top. I like to press in a few small pieces of berries as well. If you add to many freeze dried berries to the top they can get a little too brown in the oven.
They will bake up soft and beautiful with chunks of melted chocolate and pieces of bright red berries.
Related Recipes
Find more Valentine’s Day ideas right here!
Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
Grilled Doughnut Strawberry Shortcakes
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cream Puffs
Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour spooned lightly into measuring cups and then leveled with a knife
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup real butter at room temperature*
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- 12- ounce bag chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups roughly chopped freeze-dried strawberries*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand-mixer, combine shortening, butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating until each one is incorporated. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
- Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips and strawberries and mix until well blended.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion dough into 1 1/2" balls and place on baking sheet
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until set on edges and slightly soft in centers. Remove and let cool on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack. Yields about 3 dozen.
