Description
Soft, buttery cherry cookies with a chocolate kiss center festive, easy, and perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
6 oz maraschino cherries, finely chopped
5 tsp maraschino cherry juice
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
8 drops red food coloring (optional)
24 chocolate kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Chop maraschino cherries and set aside with reserved juice. Chill chocolate kisses.
3. Cream butter, powdered sugar, salt, and baking powder until fluffy.
4. Add cherry juice, vanilla, almond extract, and food coloring; mix well.
5. Gradually stir in 2 cups flour until a rough dough forms.
6. Fold in cherries and remaining 1/2 cup flour until evenly combined.
7. Chill dough for 10 minutes.
8. Shape into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet.
9. Bake for 10–12 minutes until set but soft in the center.
10. Remove from oven and press a cold chocolate kiss into each cookie.
11. Let cookies cool 2 minutes on sheet, then transfer to rack.
12. Refrigerate 10 minutes to set chocolate.
Notes
Thoroughly dry cherries before adding to prevent wet dough.
Use room-temperature butter for smooth mixing.
Do not skip chilling the dough; it keeps cookies from spreading.
Press chocolate kisses in immediately after baking for perfect centers.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Valentine’s Day Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg