White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies! (see recipe below)
Yesterday, you may or may not have caught my guest post over on Liz’s site for Chocolate Chip Thursday.
Hence the reason for my “mystery cookie” from earlier in the week.
So in case you missed it, let’s get ya’ll caught up to speed on these delicious White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread cookies! Because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and what better excuse to bake up some fun, festive treats, right??
And really, who doesn’t love a little white chocolate in their lives…
When combined together in this simple shortbread cookie, the flavors of the white chocolate and cherries are nothing short of delicious, and the color of the cherries just screams Valentine’s Day. They will make the perfect gift for your sweetie, your friends, your co-workers…or let’s be serious, yourself.
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White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies
(Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter
- 12 oz white chocolate baking squares, finely chopped*
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 drops red food coloring**
- 2 teaspoons shortening
- Red or pink sprinkles
*An equal amount of white chocolate chips could also be used in place of baking squares.
**Food coloring is optional – I just like how it gives the cookies more color.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread chopped cherries on paper towels to drain well.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender (or 2 knives), cut in the butter until mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. Stir in almond extract and food coloring. Knead mixture with hands until it forms a smooth ball.
3. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.
4. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
Once cookies are cooled…
5. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Heat in 10 second intervals, checking and stirring after each. (30-40 seconds total should be enough) Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired,sprinkle with red or pink sprinkles. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. ENJOY!
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For the play-by-play…
First, start off by chopping up the cherries and leave them to dry on a paper towel.
Next, combine your flour and sugar.
And add your cold, cut up butter.
Using a pastry blender (or two knives if you don’t have one), cut in the butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
It might take a while…
…but eventually it will look like this.
Next, add in 2/3 cup of the finely chopped white chocolate and the chopped cherries.
Add in your almond extract,
and red food coloring. You don’t need it, but it totally helps add to the festiveness of the cookie.
Now crank up your muscles and knead the dough to form a nice, smooth ball.
Take a quick rest (your arms may be tired!) then go ahead and start to form your dough into 3/4” balls, placing them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
Using a drinking glass, dip the bottom into sugar and flatten out your dough balls.
Allow to bake and cool completely.
Then go ahead and dip half of these bad boys into your melted white chocolate.
Mmmmmm, so tasty!
Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl says
Yum! White chocolate and cherry together are seriously one of my favorite flavor combos (behind milk chocolate and peanut butter of course!). I wonder how these would taste if I added a few toffee bits into the mix. I feel an experiment comin’ on!
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) says
Seeing the play-by-play makes me want to make them even more! I love the glass method you used to flatten them.
Ally (oatsandspice) says
What perfect cookies for valentines day – I want to make them!
Blog is the New Black says
These look so great, Court!
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
Sign me up! I love this flavor combination! :D
Hope says
These cookies look so good! They are so festive for Valentine’s Day! I definitely saved this recipe! :) I like that you showed step by step how to make these. Thanks for that :)
Holly says
DELISH!!!
love the white chocolate & cherry combination!
CaSaundra says
Yaaay–there’s nothing better than pink cookies! :-)
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Yummy! White chocolate + cherry sounds like an awesome combo! They look pretty, too.
Shanna, like Banana says
I made these for Christmas — big hit! Mine turned out almost exactly the same (well yours are prettier) http://shannalikebanana.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/dark-choc-mint-blondies-cherry-white-choc-shortbread/
Grace says
I’m making some cherry tea cakes today and the recipe is very similar!
Liz @ IHeartVegetables says
So random story, I won this box of pickled vegetables (and I was like, um, ok, gross..) but it did come with a jar of cherries! I got rid of everything else but I saved the cherries because I THOUGHT they might come in handy! Now I can actually make this! I’m so excited :)
Lauren @ Hungry Dancer says
I love white chocolate!! Every time you post a white chocolate recipe I get excited!
Carrie (Moves 'N Munchies) says
these are just so cute and delightful!!!
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
Oh wow, I thought I was looking at my most that I did of these same cookies last year. I love these and my coworkers request them often since they are so good!
Here is my post on the same:http://thescenefromme.com/2010/11/23/shortbread-white-chocolate-cherry-style/
Courtney says
Hahaha, how funny is that! I never saw yours!
Emma says
yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmm! u make the BEST biscuits!
Charlie says
Yum! These cookies look delicious! Cherry and white chocolate must make a great combination!
Cara says
Those are sooo cute! Cherry and White chocolate would be good together, I’ve never though about that!