Spread love anytime of the year with these chocolaty, heart shaped, strawberry sandwich cookies. Homemade strawberry cream cheese filling between two rich shortbread cookies create an indulgent sweet and tart combo.

The Key Ingredient

Public disclaimer: I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s day! Culturally speaking, Valentine’s Day was not a big deal as I was growing up in Greece. However, I’m a hopeless romantic and love to watch all the cheesy movies. Please bear with me for a few more lines. This is still a dessert blog. Baking a batch of cookies brings love and joy not only to me but the people I’m sharing them with. That is to say that I might not be hysterical about spending a fortune for Valentine’s Day gifts but I’m grateful to be reminded that love is the key ingredient in everything I do. You got the point! Time to make these delicious heart shaped strawberry sandwich cookies 🙂

Ingredients for Strawberry Sandwich Cookies

• Fresh Strawberries: Opt for fresh organic strawberries for optimal flavor. Prefer ripe strawberries for a sweeter taste and more intense color. Frozen strawberries will also work fine but they might take a little bit longer to cook down. If you wish to achieve a vibrant pink hue, you may use 2 drops of food coloring.
• Cocoa Powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder provides a deep chocolate flavor and a dark brown color to the cookies. If you like bittersweet chocolate you may increase the amount of cocoa powder by 1/2 cup.
• Cream Cheese: In place of cream cheese you may use mascarpone cheese for a more velvety and acidic taste.

How to make Strawberry Sandwich Cookies

Make the shortbread cookie dough and refrigerate. Roll out the dough and cut out heart shaped cookies. Bake the shortbread cookies and let them cool while you are preparing the strawberry cream cheese filling. Cook down the fresh strawberries and then combine with the rest of the ingredients. Pipe the filling on half of the cookies and top them with the other half to create sandwiches. For a fancy look use red, pink and white sprinkles to decorate the cookies.

Tips for Success:

• Make sure all ingredients are at the right temperature.
• Don’t be tempted to add more flour if the dough is crumbly. It will come together when you work it.
• Underbeating/Overmixing: Beat butter and sugar for exactly 3 minutes on medium-high speed. Always scrape down the bowl when necessary. Do not overmix after you add the flour.
• Chill the dough for the strawberry sandwich cookies for at least 30 minutes before rolling out. That way, the butter solidifies and the cookies won’t spread when baking.Move the dough around to prevent it from sticking. Flour your cookie cutter for easy release.

Make Ahead & Storage Instructions:

Love comes in all shapes and forms and these strawberry sandwich cookies are the sweetest way to express it! They are pretty, packed with flavor and easy to make even if you haven’t baked before. Save this recipe for Valentine’s Day or just any day you wish to treat your loved ones. If you make the cookies, do leave us a review in the comments below. Happy baking!

More Recipes to Try:

• Soft Molasses Sandwich Cookies with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filling
• Phyllo Strawberry Cheesecakes with Basil
• Lemon Thyme Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies
• Pasta Flora – Greek Strawberry Jam Tart
• Easy Crispy Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

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Heart Shaped Strawberry Sandwich Cookies

Christianna | Siftnwhisk

Spread love anytime of the year with these chocolaty, heart shaped, strawberry sandwich cookies. Homemade strawberry cream cheese filling between two rich shortbread cookies create an indulgent sweet and tart combo.

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Chilling 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 7 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 14

Calories 230 kcal

Equipment

• Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Shortbread Cookies

• 1 cup & 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar sifted
• 2 & ½ cups All-Purpose Flour sifted
• 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder sifted
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling

• 1 cup Fresh Strawberries washed, rinsed, hulled and sliced
• 4 oz Cream Cheese softened to room temperature
• 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter softened to room temperature
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar sifted
• 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions

 

Shortbread Cookies

• Using a hand/stand mixer with the paddle attachment fitted, cream together butter and powdered sugar on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. The butter mixture should be smooth, fluffy and pale yellow in color.
  1 cup & 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• In a bowl mix together all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and salt.
  2 & ½ cups All-Purpose Flour, 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 1/2 tsp Salt
• With the mixer running on low, slowly add the flour mixture and mix until a dough is formed. The dough may look crumbly at this point. It's normal.
  2 & ½ cups All-Purpose Flour, 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 1/2 tsp Salt
• Remove dough from mixing bowl and place on top of plastic wrap sheet. Using the plastic wrap, shape the dough into a disc, cover air tightly and flatten it with your palm.
• Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to  350°F (180C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• On a well floured surface, roll out the dough 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness (depending on how thick you like your cookies). Use a heart shape cookie cutter to cut out the cookies.
  
• Transfer cut out cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Re-roll extra scraps and repeat as previously, until you have no cookie dough left.
• Bake in the middle rack for 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are slightly browner on the edges. Remove from oven and let them sit in the baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving in the refrigerator to completely cool.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling

• In a medium saucepan, add the strawberries.Bring to a boil and then simmer in low heat for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. The strawberries should be cooked down and have a medium thick consistency.
  1 cup Fresh Strawberries
• Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl. Set aside and allow to cool down.
• Using a hand/stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and unsalted butter on medium/high speed until smooth.
  4 oz Cream Cheese, 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter
• Add the powdered sugar, strawberries and pure vanilla extract and mix until incorporated, scraping down the bowl when necessary.
  1 cup Fresh Strawberries, 1 cup Powdered Sugar, 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Assemble Cookies

• To assemble the heart shaped strawberry sandwich cookies, place a dollop of strawberry cream cheese filling on the flat side of the cooled cookie. Top it with the flat side of the second cookie to make a sandwich. You can also pipe the filling on the cookies.
  
• Serve chilled. Enjoy!

Notes

• Underbeating/Overmixing: Beat butter and sugar for 3 minutes on medium-high speed. Always scrape down the bowl when necessary. Do not overmix after you add the flour.
• Don’t be tempted to add more flour if the dough is crumbly. It will come together when you work it.
• Chill the dough: Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling out. If the dough is quite sticky while rolling, pop in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. The dough will be easier to handle.
• Move the dough around so to prevent it from sticking. Flour your cookie cutter for easy release.
• Note that ovens bake differently, so yours may take a little less or a little more time to bake.
• Do not overbake the cookies as they will turn out hard.
• Make Ahead & Storage Instructions: Cookies can be prepared up to 1 week ahead; Store in resealable plastic bags and freeze. Strawberry cream cheese filling can also be prepared 1 day ahead and be refrigerated.
• Strawberry sandwich cookies will keep fresh up to 4 days in the refrigerator covered airtightly.
• They will freeze well up to 3 months in an airtight container or a freezer safe plastic bag.
• Have any questions about the recipe or want to ask for substitutions? Please contact us.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 111mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 262IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 2mg

Keyword cream cheese, shortbread, strawberries, unsalted butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, valentine’s day

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