Strawberry Sugar Cookies

Directions

In a mixing bowl, whisk together cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup freeze dried strawberries to a food processor and pulse until ground into a fine powder. Sift ground strawberries through a fine mesh strainer into the flour mixture and whisk to combine. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter, shortening and sugar on medium speed until very pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Mix in egg, then mix in egg white and vanilla. Blend in food coloring if desired . With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Transfer dough to an airtight container and refrigerate 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 during the last 10 minutes of refrigeration. Scoop dough out about 3 Tbsp at a time and roll into a ball. Place dough ball on a lightly floured surface, sprinkle top lightly with flour, then using something flat and smooth , press and evenly flatten dough to about 1/3-inch thick . Transfer flattened dough to a Silpat or buttered cookie sheet and repeat process with remaining dough . Bake in preheated oven 8 - 9 minutes. Allow to cool 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Cool completely then frost with Strawberry Frosting.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter until pale and fluffy. Meanwhile, pulse 1/3 cup freeze dried strawberries in the food processor until finely ground. Using a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds, sift freeze dried strawberries over butter and mix to combined. Stir in 3 Tbsp fresh strawberry puree, lime or lemon juice and vanilla extract . Slowly mix in powdered sugar and whip until well combined.