Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies
from kristineskitchenblog.comThese cherry cream cheese cookies are soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies rolled in nuts and topped with a maraschino cherry. My family has been making these festive cookies for generations!
Servings: 54 cookies
Calories: 87kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 3 ounces brick-style cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts for rolling
- Maraschino cherries halved
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Add the granulated sugar, egg and almond extract and mix until well combined.1 cup unsalted butter, 3 ounces brick-style cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon almond extract
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix on low speed until combined.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- Cover the mixing bowl and chill dough for at least 2 hours and up to 48 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls. (Cookies turn out best when the dough balls are small.) Roll each ball in the chopped walnuts and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Press a half cherry into each cookie.1 cup finely chopped walnuts, Maraschino cherries
- Bake for 9-12 minutes, until barely set and lightly golden on the bottom. Be careful not to over-bake.
Video
Notes
- To Store: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Almond Extract: I love the almond flavor in these cookies, but you can substitute vanilla extract if needed.
- To make these cookies nut-free: Instead of rolling the dough balls in chopped nuts, you can roll them in crushed graham crackers. One reader even rolled the dough balls in sprinkles!
- If you can’t find maraschino cherries (or prefer not to use them) you can add jam to the center of these cream cheese cookies instead, just like Thumbprint Cookies. Use the back of a round teaspoon measuring spoon to press a well into each cookie (the dough balls will also flatten some as you make the wells). Spoon ½ teaspoon of jam into each cookie well.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 131IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
