Description
Delicate cookies with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, studded with maraschino cherries and mini chocolate chips, rolled in powdered sugar for a festive finish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups Butter (room temperature)
- 0.75 cup Powdered sugar (for dough)
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1.5 tsp Almond extract
- 1.5 tsp Vanilla extract
- 0.5 tsp Cherry extract or emulsion
- 0.5 cup Maraschino cherries (drained and chopped)
- 1 cup Pecans (finely ground)
- 4.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 0.75 cup Mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet recommended)
- 1.5 cups Powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Beat butter, 0.75 cup powdered sugar, and 0.5 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape the bowl as needed.
- Mix in salt, 1.5 tsp almond extract, 1.5 tsp vanilla extract, and 0.5 tsp cherry extract until well combined.
- Drain maraschino cherries very well, chop finely, and gently fold into the dough.
- Add finely ground pecans and mix until evenly distributed.
- Gradually add flour ½ cup at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
- Fold in mini chocolate chips with a wooden spoon.
- Chill dough for 30–60 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) during the last 15 minutes of chilling.
- Scoop dough into 1.5 tablespoon portions, roll into balls, and place on lined baking sheets about 1.5–2 inches apart.
- Bake for 15–17 minutes until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops look set but not browned.
- Remove from oven and while still warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Let cool on a wire rack, then roll again for a classic snowball finish.
Notes
To reduce sugar, omit the granulated sugar and increase powdered sugar for structure. Chilling the dough is essential for texture and shape.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 8.3g
- Saturated Fat: 4.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18.5g
- Fiber: 0.7g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 40mg