White Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Cookies

Yield: 3 to 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 1 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1 (11 ounce) bag Ghiradelli white chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Coarse sugar or red sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Pulse cherries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Knead in cherries, 2/3 cup white chocolate chips and almond extract until dough forms a ball.
4. Shape into 3/4 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a glass dipped in remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely.
6. In a microwave, melt remaining white chocolate at 70% power for 1 minute, stirring until smooth.
7. Place melted chocolate in a zip top bag, snip corner and drizzle over cookies.
8. Sprinkle with coarse or colored sugar if desired.
9. Place on wax paper until set.

Attribution

Photo credit: 34555769@N04 / CC BY