These strawberry shortcake cookies are super soft and cake-like with buttery flavor, loads of sweet juicy strawberries and maple glaze. They’re paleo, grain free, gluten-free, kid approved, and irresistibly delicious!
Since we’re all putting berries in everything lately I decided it was time for cookies to have their chance. I thought about blueberry muffin cookies (still working on those) but made these strawberry shortcake ones first and HAD to share ASAP.
Now, you might be wondering what makes these strawberry “shortcake” cookies rather than simple strawberry cookies, and I do have an answer.
The cookies themselves turn out cake-like due to the flour combo along with extra moisture from the strawberries. They’re soft and buttery sweet, with a creamy glaze that will absolutely make you think of strawberry shortcake!
Of course, these cookies faster and easier than making actual paleo strawberry shortcakes. If you happen to be inclined though, check out this recipe for the real deal – so good!
If you’re sticking with the cookies for now, you’re in for a major treat though – and one that’s ready from start to finish in 30 minutes – no dough chilling at all!
We start with fresh strawberries. Chop them and let them drain on paper towels while you prepare the dough. It’s ghee (for that amazing buttery flavor!), maple sugar, and a combination of almond and tapioca flours that make up the base of these cookies.
Once the dough is mixed, squeeze extra water out of the strawberries and fold them in. Scoop the dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets, and press down just a bit since they’ll only spread a little.
These cookies bake a little bit longer than most – about 12 minutes in a 375° F oven – or until lightly browned all over. They’ll be super soft at first, but will firm up while cooling.
However, because of the moisture from the strawberries, they’ll remain soft. The texture is a cross between a cake and a cookie, and the flavor is just perfect.
The glaze can be made with either maple sugar or organic powdered sugar. For the photos, I used organic powdered sugar because it creates a white icing that contrasts beautifully with the golden brown cookies.
The maple sugar icing (see notes) will be a light caramel color, and the flavor is even better than the white icing in my opinion. You can drizzle on the glaze when they’re still a bit warm since it will harden as the cookies cool.
I hope you’re ready for paleo strawberry shortcake cookies that will rock your BERRY world and make everyone in the family happy! Not that I’m telling you to share – because obviously you don’t have to. But, you do HAVE to make these, so let’s go!
Paleo Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Paleo Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup ghee room temp
- 1/2 cup pure maple sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour or arrowroot
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp of fine grain sea salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered maple sugar (see note) OR organic powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp coconut cream or milk see instructions
Instructions
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Before beginning, chop the strawberries and place on paper towels while you prepare the dough.
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Preheat your oven to 375° F and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place the ghee and maple sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth with an electric hand mixer or whisk. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
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In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients, then stir into the wet mixture until a thick dough forms. Gently squeeze the chopped strawberries between the paper towel, then fold them into the dough.
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Scoop dough with a medium cookie scoop onto the parchment lined baking sheet, to make 16-18 cookies. Bake them in batches if necessary. Gently press down on each one to flatten them just a bit, then bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes for until lightly browned on top. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
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While cookies are cooling, make the glaze. Stir together the powdered maple sugar (see notwith 1 Tbsp of the coconut cream or milk. Slowly add additional milk to get a drizzly consistency.
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Drizzle the glaze over the partially cooled or cooled cookies, and allow them to sit another 20 minutes so the glaze can set. Store cookies loosely covered at room temperature for 1 day, then store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for another week. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Note: Making powdered sugar from maple sugar is surprisingly easy. Simply blend your maple sugar in a NutriBullet (what I use), high speed blender, or food processor until you have a powdery consistency. You’ll want to measure the sugar after blending to make sure you’re adding the right amount. If you prefer, you can use organic powdered sugar.
Nutrition
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Want More Paleo Cookie Recipes? Try One of These!
Orange Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ultimate Paleo + Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
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I love strawberry shortcake! These cookies look and sound so good!
Do you think these would work with a chia egg?
can i use regular granulated sugar instead of maple sugar if i don’t need it to be paleo?
YES! I have soooo many fresh strawberries from picking this year and I need to use them up. Thanks for sharing!
These look delicious. Can I use coconut sugar instead of maple sugar?
I used coconut sugar and it came out great!
Yum! I made your vanilla wafer cookies which appear to be the base of these cookies and they were delicious. I tried one while they were cooling on the counter and took them to my hubby to try. He loved them and we went back for more and my dogs were on the counter enjoying them as well! Maybe the smell too good! 😉 I can’t wait to try them again with strawberries… and make sure they are out of the dog’s reach!
Can i use butter or coconut oil instead of ghee?
As I live in Australia and Maple sugar is so expensive and hard to find, can I substitute Coconut sugar Instead?
I made these for my family and everyone LOVED them. My only issue was the cookies spread across the whole cookie sheet and became one big cookie. Wondering why this happened? Any thoughts?
Also, thank you so much for all your recipes.
Mine did that the first time. Butter/ghee was too soft
Yummy! I can’t wait to try it!
We made these last night and there are only six left as of this moment..About to be 5. Followed the exact recipe and it made 18 perfect cookies. This is by far the best paleo cookie recipe I’ve ever tried in the two years we’ve gone full Paleo. These are 150% a keeper! THE ABSOLUTE BEST. Buttery cookie, fruity strawberries and the glaze is a must!
Yum!
Made these girlies yesterday. They are really delicious and taste even better today. I find that when you bake anything with butter, the flavor truly comes alive the day after. These cookies are light and buttery and not real sweet. And the texture is not grainy at all. This recipe is a keeper. Thanks! Oh… and I added 1/4 c. of unsweetened shredded coconut just because I love coconut AND for the sugar I did 1/4c regular and 1/4 c.coconut sugar.
I made these last night. They were extremely good. I couldn’t stop eating them and they are really easy to make. Thanks for sharing another great recipe.
These are so delicious and just enough strawberries to give them a nice flavor and texture.
I just made these and ready to bake more. OMG these are so delicious, especially when you warm them in the microwave before eating! I used the maple sugar for the frosting and suggest you do too-yummy!
I’m so excited to make these tomorrow! I don’t have ghee though, so I was just going to use butter. Do I use the same amount and do I left it soften first? Thank you! 🙂
Can I use strawberries that I have frozen? Thaw and drain?
Very good. Didn’t have enough maple sugar so used coconut sugar in the glaze and it was great! Both my kids loved them(and asked for more) will definitely make this again.
These are absolutely one of the best cookies ever!
Have made them twice, so far
Used butter and coconut sugar the second time with no problems at all
Prefer them without the frosting. But the frosting was divine ( slight caramel flavor from the maple sugar)
Definitely a keeper
SERIOUSLY delicious!!!