Description
These festive Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies are a delicious addition to your Christmas baking list. Buttery slice-and-bake cookies are filled with sweet maraschino cherries and chocolate chips, creating a lovely combination of flavors. Their pretty red and white colors make them perfect for holiday parties, Christmas cookie trays, and cookie exchanges.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Sift the flour first if it is not already pre-sifted.
- Gradually blend the flour mixture into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Stir in the chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Place the dough onto a sheet of plastic cling wrap. Shape it into a long log approximately 2 inches in diameter.
- Wrap the dough tightly in cling wrap, pressing out any air bubbles to prevent holes in the center of the cookies.
- Refrigerate the dough log for a couple of hours or overnight until firm.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and cut it into slices approximately 1/2 inch thick.
- Arrange the cookies about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
- Transfer the cookies to wire cooling racks and allow them to cool completely.
Notes
- Chill the dough for at least a couple of hours, or overnight, to make slicing easier.
- Make sure the maraschino cherries are well drained and chopped before adding them to the dough.
- It is a good idea to bake one or two test cookies before baking the entire batch.
- Bake the cookies soon after removing the dough from the refrigerator. If the dough becomes too soft, return it to the refrigerator until firm again.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American