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Cherry Cookies

Deliciously soft and buttery cherry cookies with bright maraschino cherries, perfect for bake sales or afternoon tea.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened Can use salted butter; reduce salt by ¼ teaspoon.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg Use room temperature.
  • 1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour Measure correctly to avoid dense cookies.
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped Drain and pat dry to avoid extra moisture.

Optional Icing Ingredients

  • 1 cup powdered sugar For optional icing.

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer or 4-5 minutes by hand.
  • Beat in the egg and alcohol-free vanilla extract until evenly incorporated.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
  • Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries until evenly distributed.

Baking

  • Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center looks set.
  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Icing (Optional)

  • If desired, mix powdered sugar with a little milk to make a thin icing and drizzle over cooled cookies.

Notes

For uniform cookies, use a 1-tablespoon scoop and rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking for even coloring. Cookies can be customized with cherry-almond or chocolate chip variations.
Keyword Baking, Butter Cookies, Cherry Cookies, Maraschino Cherries, Quick Cookies