Description

Delightfully festive Cherry Blossom Cookies feature a buttery, tender dough infused with maraschino cherry juice and almond extract, studded with chopped maraschino cherries, and topped with a sweet milk chocolate kiss. These charming cookies offer a perfect balance of fruity, nutty, and chocolate flavors, making them an excellent treat for celebrations or everyday indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (115g) powdered sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 drops red food coloring (optional)
2 1/4 cups (293g) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Topping

30 milk chocolate kisses

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate even baking.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature unsalted butter and powdered sugar on medium speed until the mixture is well combined and smooth, creating a light, fluffy base for the cookies.
Add Egg Yolk: Incorporate one large egg yolk into the creamed butter and sugar, mixing until fully combined to enrich the dough and aid binding.
Mix Flavors and Color: Add salt, maraschino cherry juice, almond extract, vanilla extract, and red food coloring (if using). Mix these ingredients thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Add Flour and Cherries: Slowly add in the all-purpose flour, mixing just until the dough comes together to avoid overworking it. Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries gently to distribute them evenly.
Shape Cookies: Using approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, roll the dough into balls. Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet to allow for spreading during baking.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden. The centers should remain soft to ensure a tender texture.
Add Chocolate Kisses and Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a milk chocolate kiss into the center of each warm cookie. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before serving to let the chocolate set and the cookies firm up.

Notes

Room temperature butter is essential for creaming properly and achieving a tender crumb.
Chopped maraschino cherries add sweetness and bright flavor; drain excess juice well to prevent sogginess.
Red food coloring is optional but gives the cookies a festive appearance reminiscent of cherry blossoms.
Press the chocolate kisses into the cookies right out of the oven when they’re soft for easy embedding.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a vegan margarine and use dairy-free chocolate kisses.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cherry Blossom Cookies, maraschino cherry cookies, chocolate kiss cookies, festive cookies, almond extract cookies