These Cherry Almond Shortbread Cookies are a delightful treat, perfect for holiday gatherings or as a sweet gift during the Christmas season. The combination of buttery shortbread with the tartness of cherries and the nutty flavor of almonds creates a deliciously unique cookie.
This recipe is simple and requires minimal ingredients, making it easy to whip up a batch of these festive cookies to share with friends and family.
Festive Cherry Almond Shortbread Cookies
These cookies feature a rich shortbread base infused with almond extract and studded with dried cherries. The recipe yields about 24 cookies and takes approximately 1 hour from start to finish, including chilling time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Cream the Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Extracts: Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the chopped dried cherries and sliced almonds until evenly distributed.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice and Bake: Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 8g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
