Description
Festive Christmas cherry shortbread cookies offer a delightful blend of buttery richness and sweet holiday cheer. Crimson cherries dot these crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth treats that will enchant guests with their classic seasonal charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Base:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
Flavoring:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decorative Ingredients:
- ½ cup (75g) chopped red and green candied cherries
- ¼ cup (30g) finely chopped nuts (like pecans or almonds)
Instructions
- Prepare the workspace by warming the oven to 325F (165C) and arranging parchment paper on two baking trays for optimal cookie preparation.
- Cream softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2 minutes, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Incorporate vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly to distribute the flavor evenly.
- Gradually integrate flour and salt into the mixture, using low-speed mixing until the dough begins to form a cohesive texture.
- Gently fold chopped candied cherries and optional nuts into the dough, distributing ingredients uniformly without overworking the mixture.
- Form the dough into small, uniform spheres using a tablespoon measure, placing each ball approximately 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Delicately flatten each cookie sphere using the bottom of a glass or fingertips, creating a gentle, even surface.
- Position the trays in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, permitting them to reach complete room temperature.
- Optional final touch: dust cookies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar for an elegant, festive presentation.
Notes
- Choose room temperature butter for easier mixing and smoother cookie texture.
- Chop candied cherries finely to distribute sweet, tangy flavor evenly throughout the shortbread.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain cookie shape during baking.
- Swap nuts with alternative mix-ins like white chocolate chips or dried cranberries for different flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 131
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 0.1 mg
- Fat: 8.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.9 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg