Simple Savory & Satisfying: Cherry Snowball Cookies

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Cherry Snowball Cookies

I had a jar of maraschino cherries that I had no idea what to do with. I love cherries, but I didn't get an early enough start on my Christmas baking to make chocolate covered cherries, and no other cherry recipes came to mind. Then I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest and I knew what to do with that jar of cherries.

They are like Russian tea cookies, but cherry flavored!

Recipe adapted from here.

Ingredients:
2/3 cups coarsely chopped marachino cherries, drained and patted dry
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus additional for rolling
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped*

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium for about 30 seconds. Add the sugar and almond extract. Beat until well combined. Gradually mix in flour. Stir in the walnuts and cherries.

Shape balls into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the bottoms are a light golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes.

Place powder sugar in a shallow dish, roll cookies in sugar, and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cookies are completely cooled, roll once more in powdered sugar if desired.

Store in an airtight container.

*How to toast nuts: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place nuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the nuts are a light golden brown. Stir the nuts half way through baking. Allow to cool.