Description
These Christmas Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies combine buttery richness with sweet maraschino cherries and chocolate chips, perfect for festive holiday baking. The soft, crumbly texture and delightful burst of cherry flavor make them a seasonal favorite for cookie exchanges or gift-giving.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, chopped (drained and patted dry or use candied maraschino cherries)
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Butter Mixture: Beat the room temperature unsalted butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using a mixer until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture and knead gently until a dough forms.
- Add Cherries and Chocolate: Fold the chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring even distribution.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Place the dough onto cling film, shape it into a log, press it gently with your hands to flatten slightly, then wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Slice Cookies: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and cut it into round cookie slices of desired thickness. Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing. This prevents crumbling and ensures they hold their shape. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- If the butter is too hard, cut it into smaller pieces and soften slightly in the microwave before mixing.
- Using small chocolate chips or drops helps with easier slicing of the dough log into cookies.
- Chill the dough for at least one hour before cutting; slice and arrange cookies on parchment paper immediately after refrigeration.
- If cookies crumble when slicing or handling, gently hold them with your fingers to avoid breakage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
