Description
These Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies combine a tender, cocoa-infused cake flour dough with a luscious strawberry buttercream center, all topped with a rich chocolate coating. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, these cookies offer a delightful surprise inside and a glossy, bittersweet finish on top, making them a decadent treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1 cup butter (unsalted, room temperature)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed firmly)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs (room temperature, about 70°F)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups cake flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder (sifted)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Filling:
- 8 tbsp butter (softened)
- 4 tbsp strawberry powder (from freeze-dried crushed berries)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
For the Topping:
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao)
- 1/4 cup cream
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients and Filling: Sift the cocoa powder to remove lumps, then measure and mix together the cake flour, sifted cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. In a separate bowl, beat 8 tablespoons of softened butter until creamy. Add the strawberry powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and powdered sugar, mixing until smooth and well combined. Portion the filling into 1 tablespoon scoops on a parchment-lined sheet and freeze for at least 15 minutes to create firm centers.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of butter with the packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the room temperature eggs one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the oil and vanilla extract until combined. Gently fold in the dry ingredient mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix to maintain a tender crumb.
- Chill the Dough: Transfer the dough to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and to promote even cooking. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper while the dough chills.
- Assemble Cookies: Remove dough and frozen filling from fridge and freezer. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of dough, flatten slightly in your palm, place one frozen strawberry filling ball in the center, then carefully wrap the dough around it and roll into a smooth ball. Place the filled cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake at 350°F for 11-12 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft in the center. Avoid overbaking; the cookies will firm up as they cool. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to set.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool fully before applying the chocolate topping to ensure the coating adheres properly and doesn’t melt.
- Prepare Chocolate Coating: Combine the chocolate chips and cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the mixture is smooth and pourable without seizing or burning.
- Top Cookies with Chocolate: Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the warm chocolate onto each cooled cookie and gently spread with the back of a spoon or offset spatula to cover the top.
- Set the Chocolate: Place the chocolate-coated cookies on a parchment-lined sheet and chill in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or leave at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, until the chocolate hardens completely.
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs ensures smooth incorporation into the butter mixture without breaking it.
- Freezing the strawberry buttercream filling before assembling prevents it from melting into the dough during baking, preserving a surprise center.
- Do not overbake the cookies; they should remain slightly soft in the center to achieve a tender texture.
- Sifting cocoa powder is important to avoid lumps and ensure even mixing.
- Use quality chocolate for the topping to get a silky smooth coating.
- Chilling the dough before baking helps control spreading for nicely shaped cookies.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate covered cookies, strawberry buttercream cookies, chocolate strawberry cookies, easy chocolate cookies, filled cookies, chocolate dipped cookies, homemade strawberry cookies
