Creating these amazing Strawberry Sugar Cookies is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for delicious results:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
6. Fold in Strawberries: Gently fold the chopped strawberries and lemon zest (if using) into the cookie dough.
7. Scoop Dough: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
9. Cool Cookies: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once cooled, dust the cookies with powdered sugar for a sweet finishing touch.

By following these steps, you’ll have a batch of Strawberry Sugar Cookies that are not only beautiful but also incredibly delicious!