Strawberry Cookies

These aren’t baked cookies at all. They’re a stovetop candy-cookie hybrid that gets shaped by hand into little strawberries, rolled in red sugar, and topped with green icing stems. They look adorable and kids love making them.

The base cooks on the stove: margarine, sugar, egg, and chopped dates simmer together for five minutes until the dates soften and break down. Then flour goes in gradually and the whole thing cooks for another seven minutes. The dates act as a natural binder and add chewy sweetness.

Off the heat, chopped nuts, vanilla, and Rice Krispies cereal fold in. Work quickly here. The mixture needs to be warm to shape easily. Once it cools down, it stiffens and becomes crumbly.

Shape each portion into a small strawberry, then toss in a brown bag with red sugar crystals to coat. Pipe a small green icing leaf on top to finish the look.

Kitchen Tips

• Shape the strawberries while the mixture is still warm. If it starts to cool and stiffen, briefly rewarm it on low heat.
• Lightly grease your hands to prevent sticking while shaping.
• Red sugar crystals give a sparkly, textured coating. Strawberry Jello powder works as an alternative and adds actual strawberry flavor to the outside.

Variations

• Coat with strawberry Jello powder instead of red sugar for a fruitier flavor and color.
• Use pecans or walnuts as your chopped nut of choice.
• Shape into balls instead of strawberries and roll in cocoa powder for a truffle-style version.