Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies, featuring a buttery, tender base studded with vibrant maraschino cherries and decadent chocolate chips. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these cookies blend classic shortbread richness with a joyful pop of color and flavor, baked to a delicate golden finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Dough
- 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
Add-ins
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, chopped and well-drained
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Butter Mixture: Beat the unsalted butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using a mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth and creamy base for the dough.
- Make the Dough: Sift together the all-purpose flour and salt, then gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture. Knead the combined ingredients until a smooth dough forms.
- Add Cherries and Chocolate: Incorporate the chopped and well-drained maraschino cherries along with the chocolate chips into the dough, mixing thoroughly to distribute the additions evenly.
- Chill the Dough: Transfer the dough onto cling film, shaping it into a log by pressing with your hands. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for one hour to firm up, which helps maintain the cookie shape during baking.
- Slice and Bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Remove the dough from the fridge, slice it into round cookie shapes, and arrange them on a baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them to a serving plate. This ensures they set properly and hold their shape.
Notes
- Drain the maraschino cherries well by placing them on paper towels to prevent excess moisture in the dough.
- For a festive twist, substitute chocolate chips with white chocolate or festive colored chips.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
- You can freeze the dough log wrapped in cling film for up to 1 month; slice and bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the bake time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, maraschino cherry cookies, shortbread cookies, holiday baking, chocolate chip cookies, festive cookies
