Strawberry Sugar Hearts

strawberry sugar hearts
To watch the Strawberry Sugar Hearts video, click here.

I’ve always been enamored by sugar cubes. You can’t help but feel fancy dropping a lump of sugar or two into your teacup. Flavored sugar formed into cute shapes is so fancy, I may faint. Someone please get the smelling salts! Pardon me while I google “what exactly are smelling salts?” In the mean time please enjoy these sweet, dainty, positively precious Strawberry Sugar Hearts. Pop them into tea, lattes, lemonade, cocktails or sparkling water.

These cuties are fragrant, delicious and easy to make. The most tedious part is filling the molds. Make sure to fill them completely and press firmly for the most defined shape. It’s also important to use enough water. Think of building a sand castle at the beach. You want enough water to dampen the sugar, but not turn it to slush. I live in a dry climate so I used 3 teaspoons, but you may need less depending on your climate.

Feel free to use the freeze dried fruit of your choice. Most grocery stores carry freeze dried fruit and you can always find it online. The most interesting one I saw was an apple-cherry combination. I might try that next!

 

Strawberry Sugar Hearts

Servings 1 batch 1/2" sugar hearts

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2-3 teaspoons water

Instructions
 

  • Process thenfreeze-dried strawberries in a small food processor or a clean spice grinder until a powdered consistency is reached.
  • Pass the powdered strawberries through a sieve to strain out the seeds.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered strawberries and sugar.
  • Add water, one teaspoon at a time, until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand. Your climate will effect how much water is needed.
  • Press the mixture firmly into silicone heart molds* or any shape silicone molds of your choice. Brush off any excess sugar.
  • Let dry, uncovered, at least 24 hours. Remove sugar hearts from molds and store in a covered container.

Notes

*To find the silicone heart molds I used, click here

Pastel Snowball Cookies

pastel snowball cookies

This delightful melt-in-your-mouth cookie recipe has been in my family for decades. We call them Snowballs, but they’re also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes or Greek Kourabiedes. I make them every year for Christmas, but they would also be perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, birthday parties, tea parties, weddings, bridal showers, and baby showers.

Pecans are my favorite nuts to use in this recipe, but you can use almost any nuts you have on hand. The original snowy white version is a classic but you can take them up a notch with pretty pastels and fruit flavors. You can use crushed, freeze-dried fruit for color and subtle flavor. Spirulina is a nutritious, vibrant powder you can use to make beautiful blue cookies. You can also dress up your snowballs with edible glitter or luster dust used for cake decorating. There are endless ways to be creative with these cute cookies!

 

Pastel Snowball Cookies

by Mari Vasseur
Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookie balls covered in pastel powdered sugar
Course Dessert
Servings 36 cookies

Ingredients
  

Cookies

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted and divided plus more for desired pastel powdered sugar color
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 cups (255g) all purpose flour, sifted
  • ½ cup (64g) finely chopped pecans

Pink powdered sugar

  • â…“ cup (40g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ cup (14g) freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries see note below*

Blue powered sugar

  • â…“ cup (40g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons blue spirulina powder

Lavender powered sugar

  • â…“ cup (40g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ cup (14g) freeze-dried blueberries see note below*
  • ¼ teaspoon violet edible petal dust optional

Instructions
 

Cookies

  • Preheat the oven to 325ºF (165ºC). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, beat the butter, with an electric mixer at medium speed, until smooth and creamy. Add 1/2 cup (60g)of powdered sugar, the vanilla and salt. Beat until pale and fluffy.
  • In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the flour and pecans. Gradually add the flour and pecan mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until combined.
  • Shape the dough into scant 1-inch balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake until light golden brown, about 17-20 minutes.
  • Place the remaining 1/2 cup (60g) of powdered sugar in a plastic bag. With a spatula, transfer three warm cookies into the bag. Shake gently to coat the cookies with powdered sugar. Transfer them to a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining cookies.
  • Cool the cookies completely then proceed to the instructions for pastel powdered sugar, depending on which color you have selected.

Pink powdered sugar

  • Process the freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries into a fine powder in a mini food processor.
  • Whisk the freeze-dried berry powder with 1/3 cup (40g) powered sugar together in a small bowl.
  • Transfer the powered sugar mixture to a plastic bag. Place three cookies in the bag and shake gently until coated with the powdered sugar mixture. Transfer the cookies back to the rack and repeat with remaining cookies.

Blue powered sugar

  • Whisk 1/3 cup (40g) powdered sugar and the spriulina powder in a small bowl.
  • Transfer the powered sugar mixture to a plastic bag. Place three cookies in the bag and shake gently until coated with the powdered sugar mixture. Transfer the cookies back to the rack and repeat with the remaining cookies.

Lavender powered sugar

  • Process the freeze-dried blueberries into a fine powder in a mini food processor.
  • Whisk the freeze-dried blueberry powder with 1/3 cup (40g) powered sugar together in a small bowl. Whisk in petal dust for a more vibrant color, if desired.
  • Transfer the powered sugar mixture to a plastic bag. Place three cookies in the bag and shake gently until coated with the powdered sugar mixture. Transfer the cookies back to the rack and repeat with the remaining cookies.

Notes

*The ratios for the pastel powered sugar are approximate. Freeze-dried fruit varies in color. Add more or less to achieve your desired shade.
Keyword cookies