Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Maraschino Cherry Shortbread Cookies, featuring buttery, tender shortbread dough studded with sweet maraschino cherries and rich chocolate chips. Perfectly crumbly and lightly golden, these cookies make a charming holiday treat that’s easy to prepare and irresistible to share.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie 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 together with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using a mixer until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and creamy, which will incorporate air and create the smooth base for your shortbread dough.
- Combine dry ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour and salt together to remove lumps and ensure an even mix, then gradually add this to the butter mixture. Knead gently to form a cohesive dough without overworking it to maintain tenderness.
- Add cherries and chocolate chips: Fold the chopped, well-drained maraschino cherries and chocolate chips evenly into the dough to distribute the flavors and textures throughout.
- Shape and chill the dough: Place the dough onto a piece of cling film, form it into a log shape by pressing gently with your hands, then wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up the dough for easier slicing.
- Slice and bake: Once chilled, remove the dough log from the refrigerator, slice it into round cookies about 1/4-inch thick, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a preheated oven at 325°F (163°C) for approximately 15 minutes until the edges are just lightly golden.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing them carefully to avoid crumbling, then serve and enjoy these buttery, festive treats.
Notes
- If the butter is too hard to cream properly, cut it into small pieces and warm briefly in the microwave to soften, but do not melt it.
- Use small chocolate chips or drops to facilitate easier slicing of the dough log into cookies.
- Chilling the dough for at least an hour is crucial for firm cookies that hold their shape well during baking.
- If the dough crumbles after slicing, gently hold the cookie slices together with your fingers before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 30g)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
