Name: Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 125 g unsalted butter, room temperature; 60 g caster sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 180 g plain flour (all-purpose); ¼ teaspoon fine salt; 110 g powdered icing sugar (confectioners’ sugar); 2 tablespoons strawberry puree (from 2 large strawberries, hulled and mashed); 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted; 30 ml milk; 170 g strawberry jam

If you’re looking for a charming, sweet treat that feels just as special as it tastes, you’ve got to try this Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how these melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies are elevated with vibrant strawberry glaze and a jammy center — perfect for any occasion where you want to impress without fuss. Stick around because I’m sharing all my tips and tricks so you can nail these delicate little hearts with ease!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients: You probably already have most of these in your pantry, and they come together effortlessly.
Perfect for Gift-Giving: These heart-shaped beauties make thoughtful, homemade gifts that always get oohs and aahs.
Customizable Flavor: The strawberry glaze is adaptable — fresh, frozen, or jam works — so you can tailor it to what you’ve got on hand.
Great Texture Balance: Buttery, crumbly shortbread with just the right hit of sweet, fruity strawberry filling.

A stack of heart-shaped cookies with two layers each: a light tan cookie base and a pink frosting layer on top with little red pieces mixed in. Between the two cookie layers is a thick, glossy, bright red jam that slightly oozes out from the sides. The cookies are arranged closely together on a white marbled surface with one cookie showing a small bite taken out. The pink frosting has a smooth and shiny texture with tiny bits of red fruit visible, and one cookie near the front has a small dried strawberry piece on top. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies, Valentine shortbread cookies, homemade shortbread cookies, strawberry glaze cookies, gift-worthy shortbread treats

Ingredients You’ll Need

This Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe uses classic shortbread ingredients with fresh strawberries added for a bright and fresh strawberry glaze. I like to pick the ripest strawberries I can find because that really amps up the flavor.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale yellow unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of fine caster sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, a neat pile of fine plain flour, a pinch of fine salt in a small white ceramic bowl, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered icing sugar, two fresh bright red strawberries (one whole, one halved), a small white ceramic bowl with smooth red strawberry jam, a small white ceramic bowl of melted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of creamy milk, all evenly spaced with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies, Valentine shortbread cookies, homemade shortbread cookies, strawberry glaze cookies, gift-worthy shortbread treats

Unsalted Butter: Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar, creating that priceless crumbly texture.
Caster Sugar: Fine sugar helps the dough blend smoothly without gritty bits.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, subtle sweetness that complements strawberries perfectly.
Plain Flour (All-Purpose): The base of the shortbread, giving it that tender but firm structure.
Fine Salt: Just a pinch balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Powdered Icing Sugar: For that smooth, glossy strawberry glaze coating.
Strawberries: Fresh and hulled for puree in the glaze—ripeness matters!
Unsalted Butter (Melted): Adds richness and shine to the glaze.
Milk: Used sparingly to loosen the glaze if needed.
Strawberry Jam: The secret to a sticky, fruity center that keeps these cookies extra special.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love encouraging you to make this Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe your own. Whether you want to tweak flavors, try dietary swaps, or play with textures, there’s plenty of room for creativity here.

Gluten-Free Version: I’ve swapped the plain flour for a gluten-free blend with great success — the texture is still buttery and melts in your mouth.
Alternative Fillings: Blueberry or raspberry jam works beautifully if strawberries aren’t in season or you crave variety.
Vegan Adaptation: Use plant-based butter and a vegan-friendly strawberry jam and you’re good to go.
Single Cookie Glaze: If sandwich cookies aren’t your thing, dip each heart entirely in the strawberry glaze for a bright pop of flavor and color.

How to Make Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Vanilla to Perfection

Start by creaming the room temperature butter with caster sugar in your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment — about 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed until the mixture is pale and light. This is crucial because it aerates the dough, giving you that tender, crumbly shortbread texture. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through so everything mixes evenly.

Step 2: Add Flour and Salt to Form Dough

Sift your plain flour and add a pinch of fine salt before mixing it into the creamed butter mixture on low speed. The dough might look a bit raggedy at first, but don’t worry — when it begins to clump together and clean the sides of the bowl, you know it’s ready. I always finish by squeezing it together gently with my hands to form a rough disc, making it easier to roll out later.

Step 3: Roll Out the Dough, Chill, Then Cut Out Hearts

Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough out to about ½ cm (¼ inch) thickness. If your dough feels too soft or sticky, pop it in the fridge for 10–15 minutes—it’s a little trick I discovered that makes rolling so much more manageable. Once rolled, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to stamp out the cookies and place them on a parchment-lined tray. Don’t toss those scraps! Bring them gently together, reroll, and cut again to maximize yield. Just be careful not to overwork the dough, or it’ll toughen your cookies. Then refrigerate these cutouts for at least 30 minutes — this helps the butter firm up again, so your cookies keep their cute shape when baking.

Step 4: Bake to Perfect Golden Edges

Preheat your oven to 170°C (335°F) while the cookies chill. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges just start to turn golden — watch closely, as every oven is different and a minute or two makes a big difference here. After baking, let them cool on the tray for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack; this avoids breakage and helps them set perfectly.

Step 5: Make the Strawberry Glaze and Assemble Cookies

For the glaze, mix powdered icing sugar, pureed strawberries, and melted butter until silky smooth. If it’s too thick, microwave for 10 seconds or add a splash of milk to reach that perfect drippy consistency. Now, divide your cookies into two groups — equal ‘tops’ and ‘bases’. Dip the tops into the glaze and let excess drip off. After the glaze sets slightly, spoon or pipe jam onto the undecorated base halves, sandwich the glazed hearts on top, and gently press together. You can enjoy immediately or let them sit so the glaze and jam set fully for the best texture.

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Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Chill for Shape Retention: Don’t skip chilling the cut-out dough — it’s the secret to those perfectly defined hearts.
Flour Your Cookie Cutter: Dusting the cutter prevents dough from sticking and keeps the edges neat and sharp.
Don’t Overwork Dough: Press scraps together gently between rollouts to avoid tough cookies.
Watch Your Bake Time: I learned to keep an eagle eye on these – they can go from perfect to overdone in a minute.

How to Serve Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe

The image shows a set of heart-shaped cookies with two visible layers: a golden brown cookie base and a smooth, light pink icing layer on top, speckled with small red bits, some with a small dried strawberry piece as decoration. The cookies are placed on a white marbled surface with a few fresh strawberries scattered around, adding a bright red contrast. Some cookie crumbs and small smears of red jam or icing are casually spread around, giving a natural and inviting look. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies, Valentine shortbread cookies, homemade shortbread cookies, strawberry glaze cookies, gift-worthy shortbread treats

Garnishes

I usually sprinkle a tiny pinch of powdered sugar on top after the glaze sets for a delicate dusty-look that’s so pretty. Sometimes I toss on a few tiny fresh strawberry slices or edible flower petals when serving — it turns these charming cookies into a little artwork, perfect for afternoon tea or Mother’s Day.

Side Dishes

Pair your Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies with a cup of lightly brewed green or white tea to balance sweetness. For a dessert platter, add fresh berries and cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make the experience extra indulgent.

Creative Ways to Present

These cookies look delightful stacked in a clear glass jar tied with ribbon as a gift. For parties, try layering them in a tiered dessert stand, alternating with mini cupcakes or macaroons to create visual interest. You can even pipe little messages or names on the hearts with edible ink pens for a personalized touch that always wows guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking. From my experience, they stay fresh and delightfully crisp for up to one week—just make sure the container is sealed tightly!

Freezing

I usually freeze the unbaked, undecorated dough cutouts between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. This way, I can pop out just the right amount to bake fresh cookies whenever I want. They freeze well for up to three months. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before baking and decorating as usual.

Reheating

These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but if you want to revive a slightly stale batch, I pop them in a low oven (about 150°C/300°F) for 5 minutes. This warms the cookies, waking up the buttery aroma and softening the edges just a touch. Avoid microwaving—they tend to get soggy.

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries for the glaze?

Absolutely! If fresh strawberries aren’t available, thawed frozen strawberries work well too. Just mash or puree them like fresh, then adjust the glaze thickness with powdered sugar or milk as needed. Alternatively, you can substitute a tablespoon or two of strawberry jam or freeze-dried strawberry powder for convenience.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these shortbread cookies stay fresh for about one week. Make sure they’re fully cooled and the glaze has set before storing to maintain the best texture and flavor.
Can I make these cookies without a stand mixer?

Yes! You can cream the butter and sugar by hand using a wooden spoon or a hand mixer, just be patient — it might take a bit longer to get that light and fluffy consistency. The key is to soften your butter well ahead of time.
Why is chilling the dough important?

Chilling helps the butter firm up again after mixing, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This is crucial for keeping the neat heart shapes and achieving that perfect crumbly texture everyone loves.

Final Thoughts

I really poured my heart into perfecting this Strawberry Heart Shortbread Cookies Recipe because I wanted a cookie that’s both gorgeous and delicious — something that brings joy to my family and friends every time I make it. I hope you give it a go and find yourself falling in love with this little strawberry-kissed shortbread as much as I have. Don’t forget to share these with someone special, because good cookies are even better when enjoyed together.