Description
Delightful cherry almond shortbread cookies blend buttery richness with sweet almond essence and tart cherry accents. Crisp edges and delicate crumb make these treats perfect for afternoon tea or elegant dessert gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Flour and Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
Nuts and Flavoring:
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 325F (165C) with a rack in the middle position.
- Using an electric mixer, whip butter and powdered sugar until creamy and airy, then incorporate almond extract thoroughly.
- Gradually fold in flour and salt, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Gently fold chopped dried cherries and toasted slivered almonds into the dough, distributing evenly.
- Shape the dough into uniform 1-inch spheres, positioning them on a parchment-lined baking sheet with slight spacing between each cookie.
- Press down gently on each dough ball using the bottom of a flat glass to create a slight disk shape.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until edges develop a delicate golden hue.
- Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to cool completely and develop a crisp texture.
Notes
- Toast almonds beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch to the cookies.
- Use room temperature butter for smoother, more evenly mixed dough that creams more easily.
- Pat dried cherries gently with paper towel to remove excess moisture, preventing soggy cookie texture.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 132
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 39 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg