Description
These Christmas Maraschino Cherry Shortbread cookies are buttery, tender, and packed with festive cherry flavor, making them a perfect holiday dessert for cookie trays, Christmas parties, and easy baking days at home. If you are looking for an easy recipe for holiday cookies, sweet snack ideas, dessert ideas, and fun food ideas for the season, this cheerful shortbread is simple to make and always looks beautiful on the table.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained, patted dry, and chopped
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Drain the maraschino cherries well, pat them very dry with paper towels, and chop them into small pieces.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
4. Mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract until combined.
5. Add the flour and salt, then mix on low speed just until a soft dough forms.
6. Gently fold in the chopped cherries with a spatula until evenly distributed.
7. Scoop tablespoon sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet and flatten them slightly.
8. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops are set.
9. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Pat the cherries very dry so the dough stays tender and not sticky.
Do not overmix the dough or the shortbread can lose its delicate texture.
Let the cookies cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar for the prettiest finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg