Description
Festive Christmas cherry shortbread cookies bring holiday cheer with their delicate crumb and sweet cherry accents. Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treats will delight guests and spark joyful memories of seasonal celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Base:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226 grams)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar for rolling
Flavoring and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Fruit Addition:
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 325F (165C), ensuring an even temperature for consistent baking.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, whip butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture becomes airy and voluminous, creating a smooth base.
- Incorporate salt, almond extract, and flour into the creamed mixture, stirring until all components are thoroughly integrated and form a cohesive dough.
- Delicately introduce chopped cherries into the dough, gently folding to distribute them evenly without crushing the fruit.
- Craft the dough into small spherical shapes, each approximately 1 inch in diameter, rolling them in granulated sugar to create a sparkling exterior.
- Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on a baking sheet, using the tines of a fork to gently press down and create a distinctive flattened pattern.
- Transfer the prepared sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for a subtle golden hue along the cookie edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Once removed from the oven, allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, which helps them set and prevents breaking.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack, permitting them to reach room temperature and achieve the perfect shortbread texture.
Notes
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain cookie structure.
- Use maraschino or dried cherries for vibrant color and extra sweetness in the shortbread.
- Swap almond extract with vanilla for a classic flavor or experiment with other extracts like orange for unique taste variations.
- For gluten-free option, replace wheat flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 134 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 29 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg