Description
Delightful Cherry Walnut Cookies offer a perfect blend of buttery richness, crunchy walnuts, and sweet maraschino cherries, making them an ideal treat for winter baking. These soft, sugar-coated cookies are easy to prepare and bring festive joy to any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar, plus more for rolling
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (90g) finely chopped walnuts
- ¾ cup (110g) finely chopped maraschino cherries, blotted dry
- Optional: ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Optional: extra cherry pieces for garnish
Instructions
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and ½ cup powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which incorporates air for a tender cookie base. Add the vanilla extract and almond extract if using, and mix well to combine.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually blend in the all-purpose flour and salt into the creamed mixture until a soft cookie dough forms. Carefully fold in the finely chopped walnuts and maraschino cherries to evenly distribute them throughout the dough without overmixing.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Chilling firms up the dough, helping the cookies maintain their shape during baking and enhancing the flavors.
- Shape Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them at least 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets to prevent sticking and allow for even cooking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until the bottoms turn lightly golden. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes to firm up slightly.
- Roll in Sugar: While the cookies are still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar to coat them lightly. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely, then roll in powdered sugar again for a beautiful, snowy finish.
Notes
- Blot maraschino cherries dry before chopping to prevent excess moisture in the dough.
- Optional almond extract adds a complementary nutty flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Use parchment paper to avoid sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Cookies keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For an extra festive look, press an additional cherry piece on top of each cookie before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cherry walnut cookies, winter cookies, holiday baking, buttery cookies, maraschino cherry cookies, festive cookies, walnut cookies
