Description
Cherry Blossom Cookies are delightful, soft cookies featuring a buttery dough infused with vanilla and almond extracts, studded with chopped maraschino cherries and optionally white chocolate chips. Topped with a whole maraschino cherry, they offer a beautiful and festive treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice (or cherry juice)
- 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips (optional)
Topping
- 12 whole maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the large egg until fully combined, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse the dough with aromatic flavors.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening and seasoning throughout the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and maintaining tenderness.
- Fold in Cherries and Chocolate: Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and cherry juice, and if desired, fold in the white chocolate chips for added sweetness and texture.
- Form Cookies: Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Press a whole maraschino cherry gently into the center of each dough ball for a decorative finish.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges just begin to turn light golden brown, indicating they are perfectly baked while remaining soft inside.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their delicate texture.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming and texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep cookies tender.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help control spreading, but it is optional.
- The white chocolate chips are optional but add a nice complement to the cherry flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
