Place the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor and pulse until they are finely ground.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture turns light and smooth.

Mix in the ground strawberries. If desired, add food coloring until you reach your desired shade of pink (it will lighten slightly after adding the flour). Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.

Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, form 20 dough balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack before serving.