Description
These festive Christmas Cherry Blossoms Cookies feature soft, buttery dough with bursts of tart maraschino cherries, perfect for holiday baking and gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (about 85 g) maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Beat in 1 large room-temperature egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and if using, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract until combined. Do not overbeat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in 1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, ensuring even distribution without squishing them.
- Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to drop rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges just start to turn golden and centers look soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Pat chopped cherries dry if they are very juicy to prevent soggy dough. Do not overmix dough after adding flour to avoid tough cookies. Let dough rest 10 minutes before scooping to reduce spreading. Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking for even browning. Refrigerate dough up to 24 hours for improved flavor and texture. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Christmas cookies, cherry cookies, holiday baking, sugar cookies, maraschino cherries, festive cookies, easy cookie recipe