Best Homemade Cherry Almond Shortbread Cookies

Simple and scrumptious treats like this are something that I always crave in the middle of the day. These are truly the best homemade cherry almond shortbread cookies you can bake at home. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and the taste of almond and vanilla. But the cherry on top ties it all. Go ahead and try this simple recipe by Imperial Sugar on Youtube – you can never go wrong with this snack!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of unsalted butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch (plus more for dusting)
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract
• 24 maraschino cherries (juice removed and dried)

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Instructions:

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2:

Add butter and powdered sugar to a large bowl. Beat for about 3 minutes until it becomes light and airy. Next, add flour, cornstarch, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Whisk the mixture until well combined until it becomes very soft.

Step 3:

Dust your hand with cornstarch, scoop 1 1/2 tablespoons of the dough, and form into a ball. Do the same for the remaining mixture.

Step 4:

Place the balls on lined cookie sheets – make sure to leave little space in between. Cookies will not spread much when baked. Push down a clean cup or glass with a flat bottom into cornstarch and press lightly on top of each dough ball to flatten and create a circular shape.

Step 5:

Gently press one cherry until 2/3 is inside the center of the cookie. Do the same for the remaining cookies.

Step 6:

Place the cookies inside the oven and bake for about 14 to 16 minutes, or until the tops look just set. The cookies will not brown but will be done. Once done baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes. After that, transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Serve and enjoy!

Best Homemade Cherry Almond Shortbread Cookies