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Hey friends!
The holiday season is here, and you know what that means? It’s cookie time!
Today, I’m super excited to share my festive recipe for Christmas cookies with cherries.
These treats are not just pretty; they’re bursting with flavor and perfect for sharing (or keeping all to yourself, no judgment here!).
So grab your apron, and let’s get into the holiday spirit with some delicious baking!
Preparation Time | 70-80 minutes |
Cooking Time | 10-12 minutes |
Total Time | 80-92 minutes |
Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Ingredients
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups halved candied cherries
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
If you’re using a fan or convection oven, you may need to set the temperature a bit lower.
While the oven is preheating, prepare your materials and ingredients for mixing.
Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Add Egg
In an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until well combined.
Add the egg and either vanilla or almond extract to the mixture.
Beat until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
This usually takes a few minutes.
Step 3: Add Flour and Fold in Cherries and Pecans
Gradually add the flour to the butter-sugar mixture, beating in a little at a time until fully integrated.
Remove the bowl from the electric mixer.
Using a wooden spoon, gently fold in the cherry halves and chopped pecans, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Step 4: Chill the Dough
Place the dough in the fridge to chill for about an hour.
This helps in making the dough easier to handle and shape later.
Step 5: Shape, Wrap, and Store the Dough
After chilling, take the dough out of the fridge and shape it into 3 rolls, each about 9 to 10 inches long.
Wrap each roll in cling film (plastic wrap).
You can now either refrigerate the dough rolls for up to 3 days or place them in freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months.
Step 6: Slice and Bake
When you are ready to bake, remove the dough rolls from the fridge or freezer and let them warm up slightly.
Roll the wrapped rolls gently on a flat surface to ensure they are round and don’t have a flat edge from sitting.
Cut the chilled or slightly thawed dough rolls into ⅛ inch slices and place them on ungreased baking sheets.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to turn golden.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.