These Shortbread Maraschino Cherry Cookies are a classic, buttery cookie with a pop of cherry goodness that will melt in your mouth! These cookies taste amazing, plus this easy recipe is fun to make with the kids.
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About Maraschino Cherry Cookies
Shortbread cookies have been around since about the 12th century and became popular in places like Scotland and England. These cookies have been a strong Christmas cookie for so long because they’re SO GOOD. Everyone loves that sweet cherry flavor.
Why This Candied Cherries Recipe is a Keeper
We love this recipe so much because they don’t take long to make, super easy and are perfect for the holidays!
- 25 Minutes: From start to finish, these cookies take 25 minutes to make.
- Easy Ingredients: You’ll need 5 easy ingredients that might already be in your pantry.
- Family Friendly: These cookies are a classic family favorite that have just the right amount of sweetness.
- Perfect for Holidays: Make this recipe for shortbread cookies with cherries are perfect for gift giving and cookie trays.
If you’re looking for more cookie recipes, try these Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies, Buckeye Brownie Cookies and Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies
What is the secret to good shortbread?
An ingredient to note for good shortbread cookies is a good quality butter! If your butter is a higher quality butter, your cookies are going to come out irresistible.
Variations and Substitutions for Delicious Cherry Shortbread
- Alternate Flavor: Replace the vanilla extract with the almond extract, it goes incredibly well with the cherry flavor.
- Sprinkles: Top with some sprinkles to make this cookie a little more fun!
- Cornstarch: Try replacing a half cup of your all-purpose flour with sifted cornstarch. Scottish shortbreads use cornstarch to make them melt-in-your-mouth good.
How to Make Christmas Cookies with Cherries
These delicious cookies come together in just a few simple steps, cutting down your Christmas cookie baking time.
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These are the basic steps for making Shortbread Maraschino Cherry Cookies. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. We love reader interactions if you make the cookies, I’d love to hear from you.
STEP 1: Prep
Preheat oven to 350F. Two baking sheets lined parchment paper or use silicone baking sheets.
STEP 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients in a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment
In a large bowl, beat the butter and white sugar until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract and then slowly beat in the flour and dry ingredients until it’s just incorporated.
STEP 3: Scoop
Use a cookie scoop, or a tablespoon, to form cookie dough into balls. Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Use a teaspoon to press down on the cookies, flattening them and making a small dip in the center of each cookie.
STEP 4: Bake the Cherry Cookie
Press a maraschino cherry (you can get these in a jar of cherries) securely into the indent on each shortbread. Bake the cherry cookie for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove the Cookies and allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
Recipe FAQs for the Baked Cookies
Expert Tips for Making This Sweet Maraschino Cherry Cookies Recipe
- Chill: Chill the dough made with maraschino cherries so that it holds it shape well.
- Toppings: Try replacing the cherries with crushed almonds.
- Chocolate Chips: You could replace the cherry by spreading milk chocolate chips over the top of the cookie. Or you could keep the cherry but also add chocolate chips for a maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookie or try white chocolate chips in this delicious recipe.
- Chopped Cherries: Try chopped maraschino cherries added into the dough or spread over the top of the cookie.
- Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter and add just a pinch of salt to the cookie dough balls recipe.
- Cooking Tip: Try baking the cookies low and slow (around 200 degrees) for that light color you desire for this quick and easy to make cookie.
- Cherry Juice: Cherry juice from jar cherries can be used in delicious cherry recipes, Shirly Temples or in other cocktail drinks.
- Do NOT Overbake: If you over bake these cookies they might end up dry and crumbly.
- Rice Flour: Add a little rice flour to the recipe to make that sandy texture.
- Variation tip: Add a little rice flour to the recipe to make that sandy texture.
- Drizzle: Drizzle a little icing, dark chocolate or white chocolate on top of the Christmas shortbread cookies.
More Cherry Cookie Recipes
- Cherry Chip Cake Mix Cookies
- Kolaczki (Polish Kolacky Cookies) (can be made with cherry jam)
- Cherry Cheesecake Bites
Shortbread Maraschino Cherry Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Butter, softened
- ¾ cup White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 35-40 Maraschino Cherries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract and then slowly beat in the flour until just incorporated.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion out the dough on the prepared cookie sheets, about 1″ apart.
- Use an inverted teaspoon to press down on the cookies, flattening them and making a small dip in the center of each cookie.
- Press a maraschino cherry securely into the indent on each shortbread.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Cool on the cookie sheet for about 15 minutes.
Christina’s Notes
- Chill: Chill your dough so that it holds it shape well.
- Toppings: Try replacing the cherries with crushed almonds.
- Chocolate Chips: You could replace the cherry by spreading chocolate chips over the top of the cookie. Or you could keep the cherry but also add chocolate chips for a maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookie
- Chopped Cherries: Try chopped maraschino cherries added into the dough or spread over the top of the cookie.
- Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter and add just a pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Cooking Tip: Try baking the cookies low and slow (around 200 degrees) for that light color you desire.
- Cherry Juice: Cherry juice from jar cherries can be used in delicious cherry recipes, Shirly Temples or in other cocktail drinks.
- Variation tip: Add a little rice flour to the recipe to make that sandy texture.
- Drizzle: Drizzle a little icing, dark chocolate or white chocolate on top of the Christmas shortbread cookies.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
oh my freaking gosh these were the best cookies I have ever had in my entire life
Needed another cup of flour. Cookies spread out and did not hold shape and i had even chilled the dough. Compared this to other recipes and it had way too little flour. Try 3 cups, not 2 as the recipe states. Better yet, use a different recipe.
These are very good cookies! I think I have a new favorite! 🙂
I love shortbread and I love cherries so this recipe was a real winner for me. I took it to a cookie swap and they were popular there too!
Such a classic, old school Christmas cookie. I always reach for these first!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!