Description
Holiday cheer sparkles through Christmas cherry shortbread cookies, blending buttery richness with festive cherry accents. Sweet crumbles melt effortlessly, inviting seasonal delight that connects memories and warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (75g) chopped red and green candied cherries
- ¼ cup (30g) finely chopped nuts (like pecans or almonds)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325F (165C) and line two baking trays with parchment paper for efficient cookie baking.
- Butter Mixture: Whip softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until the blend becomes fluffy and pale, ensuring a smooth, aerated consistency.
- Flavor Integration: Mix vanilla extract into the butter blend, guaranteeing even flavor distribution throughout the dough.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Blend flour and salt into the mixture at low speed, creating a cohesive dough that holds together without becoming tough.
- Ingredient Fusion: Fold candied cherries and nuts into the dough, ensuring uniform distribution while maintaining the dough’s delicate structure.
- Cookie Shaping: Craft uniform dough balls using a tablespoon, positioning them two inches apart on prepared baking sheets with precision.
- Surface Refinement: Gently press each cookie sphere using a glass bottom or fingertips, creating an even, elegant surface that promises uniform baking.
- Baking Process: Slide trays into the preheated oven, baking for 15-18 minutes until edges transform into a subtle golden hue, signaling perfect doneness.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling; optionally dust with powdered sugar for a festive touch.
Notes
- Prevent Overworking Dough: Mix ingredients just until combined to maintain a tender, delicate cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Control Butter Temperature: Use room temperature butter that’s soft but not melting to ensure proper creaming and consistent cookie structure.
- Spacing Matters: Leave adequate space between cookies on the baking sheet to allow even heat circulation and prevent spreading into each other.
- Cherry Distribution Technique: Gently fold candied cherries to avoid breaking them, ensuring even flavor and color throughout the shortbread cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg