If you adore the cozy chewiness of oatmeal cookies but are craving a vibrant, fruity twist, you are going to fall head over heels for this Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe. These cookies perfectly combine the hearty texture of oats with the bright, tangy flavor of freeze-dried strawberries, all topped off with a luscious strawberry glaze that adds a burst of sweetness and color. Whether you’re baking for a casual afternoon treat or a special occasion, these cookies bring a fresh, delightful spin to a classic favorite that’s sure to impress and satisfy every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe relies on a handful of simple but essential ingredients that each bring something special to the cookies. From the wholesome chew of old-fashioned oats to the intense strawberry flavor packed into freeze-dried berry powder, everything combines to create a perfect balance of taste, texture, and color.
- Old fashioned rolled oats: Adds hearty texture and a nutty flavor for that classic oatmeal cookie feel.
- Flour: The foundation of the dough, providing structure and softness.
- Baking powder and baking soda: The leavening agents that help the cookies rise just right.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the cookie, balancing sweetness.
- Freeze dried strawberries: Gives an intense, natural strawberry flavor without adding moisture.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender crumb.
- Granulated sugar and brown sugar: A combo that brings sweetness with a touch of caramel depth.
- Egg and egg yolk: Bind all ingredients together, keeping cookies moist and soft.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, comforting notes that complement the strawberry beautifully.
- Powdered sugar: Used for the glaze, it creates that smooth, sweet coating.
- Freeze dried strawberry powder: Infuses the icing with fresh strawberry flavor and gorgeous pink color.
- Whole milk: Adjusts the glaze consistency for the perfect dip.
- Light corn syrup: Adds shine and helps the glaze harden evenly.
How to Make Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking. This simple start sets up your baking station perfectly and ensures a smooth cookie-making process.
Step 2: Pulse the Oats and Strawberries
Using a food processor, pulse the oats about 10 times until they become coarse but not ground too finely — this maintains their lovely texture. Next, pulse the freeze-dried strawberries until finely powdered with a few small pieces left for bursts of berry flavor. These preparations intensify the fruity notes and add a brilliant texture contrast in your cookies.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
Whisk together 3 tablespoons of your strawberry powder with the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. This mixture brings all the dry components together while infusing a subtle strawberry scent throughout the cookies.
Step 4: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a separate bowl, whisk the melted and cooled butter with both granulated and brown sugars until smooth and lump-free. This creamy mix is your ticket to chewy, tender cookies with hints of caramel sweetness from the brown sugar.
Step 5: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Whisk the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture until fully blended. This step adds moisture and richness while tying the flavors together seamlessly.
Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make the cookies tough. At this point, chill the dough for 10 to 20 minutes to help the cookies hold their shape during baking.
Step 7: Form and Bake the Cookies
Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie and roll into balls. Place them spaced on the baking sheets, then bake 9 to 11 minutes. Right after removing from the oven, shape the cookies into perfect circles using a cutter — this gives them a polished, bakery-quality look while they’re still soft.
Step 8: Prepare and Apply the Strawberry Glaze
Whisk powdered sugar, 2 ½ tablespoons of strawberry powder, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a bowl until thick and smooth. Dip the tops of cooled cookies into this glaze and place on parchment paper to set for 1 to 2 hours. The glaze dries with a beautiful, sweet finish that perfectly complements the chewy cookie base.
How to Serve Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle a little extra strawberry powder or finely crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top of the glaze to amp up the strawberry flavor and add a fresh, eye-catching pop of color. A light dusting of powdered sugar can also add a snowy, bakery-style finish.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of herbal tea. For a decadent treat, serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream to balance the fruity sweetness with creamy textures.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking the cookies with a layer of strawberry jam or cream cheese frosting in between to create delightful cookie sandwiches. Another fun idea is to drizzle some melted white chocolate on top for a pretty contrast and extra indulgence.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe fresh by storing leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to five days, making them easy to enjoy throughout the week.
Freezing
You can freeze the cookie dough balls for later baking — just place them on a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze until firm, then transfer to a sealed bag or container. Baked cookies freeze well too; just make sure they’re completely cooled and the glaze is set before wrapping tightly.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy a warm cookie, simply microwave a cookie for 10-15 seconds or warm it briefly in the oven. This brings back that freshly baked softness and enhances the strawberry aroma beautifully.
FAQs
Can I substitute fresh strawberries for freeze-dried strawberries?
Freeze-dried strawberries are key to this recipe because they add intense flavor without adding moisture, which affects cookie texture. Fresh strawberries would make the dough too wet and change the cookie’s structure, so it’s best to stick with freeze-dried.
How thick should the strawberry glaze be?
The glaze should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and hold its shape when dipped but still pourable. If it’s too runny, add a little more powdered sugar; if it’s too thick, splash in a bit more milk carefully.
Can these cookies be made gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking. Just be sure it has xanthan gum or a similar binder for the best texture.
Why do I need to shape the cookies after baking?
Oatmeal cookies can spread and lose their shape during baking. Gently reshaping them while they’re warm ensures a uniform, pretty circle that looks as good as it tastes.
Is it necessary to chill the dough?
Chilling the dough helps solidify the butter and hydrate the oats, which improves the texture and prevents spreading during baking. Even a short chill period of 10-20 minutes makes a noticeable difference.
Final Thoughts
Baking this Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe is like welcoming a burst of sunshine into your kitchen — every step fills the air with the sweet, wholesome aroma of strawberries and oats. These cookies are a beautiful combination of nostalgic comfort and bright flavor, perfect for sharing or savoring anytime you want to treat yourself. I can’t wait for you to bake a batch and see just how irresistible they become!
Print
Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 41 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in these Strawberry Iced Oatmeal Cookies that combine the hearty texture of rolled oats with the sweet, tangy flavor of freeze-dried strawberries. Topped with a luscious strawberry glaze, these soft and chewy cookies are perfect for a refreshing treat or a charming dessert to impress friends and family.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups freeze dried strawberries
- 2 ½ Tbsp freeze dried strawberry powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 ½ Tbsp freeze dried strawberry powder
- 2–3 Tbsp whole milk
- 1 Tbsp light corn syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy cleanup.
- Pulse Oats: Place the rolled oats in a food processor and pulse about 10 times, aiming for some texture while avoiding grinding them into a powder. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Prepare Strawberry Powder: Pulse the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until they form a fine powder with a few small pieces remaining. Set aside this powder for use in both the dough and glaze.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Add 3 tablespoons of the strawberry powder to the oats, then whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt thoroughly. Set this dry mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the melted and cooled butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and free of clumps.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Whisk the large egg, extra yolk, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture until completely blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing the dough.
- Chill Dough: Place the dough in the refrigerator for 10-20 minutes to firm up. If it feels too dry after chilling, add a small splash of milk to adjust the consistency.
- Portion Dough: Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough. Roll each portion into a ball and place on the prepared baking sheets. Keep remaining dough refrigerated between batches, baking 6-8 cookies at a time.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the oven for 9-11 minutes. Be careful not to overbake; the goal is to keep the cookies soft and chewy. Right after removing from the oven, use a circular cutter to gently spin and shape the cookies into perfect circles.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack lined with parchment paper to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 2 ½ tablespoons strawberry powder, 2 to 3 tablespoons whole milk, 1 tablespoon light corn syrup, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until a thick, smooth glaze forms.
- Glaze Cookies: Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the glaze and place them on parchment paper to dry. For extra flavor and decoration, sprinkle additional strawberry powder on top. Allow the glaze to harden for 1-2 hours at room temperature.
- Serve and Store: Enjoy your strawberry iced oatmeal cookies fresh. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Chilling the dough helps in achieving the perfect texture for the cookies, preventing spread during baking.
- Using freeze-dried strawberries provides an intense and natural strawberry flavor without added moisture.
- The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by varying the amount of milk used.
- Shape the cookies right after baking to maintain neat edges since they remain soft when hot.
- Store cookies properly to maintain texture and glaze quality.
