Description
Delight in these classic Chocolate Cherry Blossoms, featuring soft cherry-infused cookies topped with a rich Hershey’s Kiss and a sweet almond glaze. Perfect for festive occasions or any time you crave a nostalgic treat with a cherry-chocolate twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 teaspoons cherry juice (from the maraschino cherries jar)
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Cookie Topping
- 1 bag Hershey’s Kisses (dark chocolate preferred)
Optional Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixer bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture becomes creamy and light.
- Add Flavorings and Cherries: Mix in the cherry juice, chopped maraschino cherries, and almond extract thoroughly. For a more vibrant pink hue, add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the flour to the mixture, stirring until fully combined. The dough will be somewhat dry but should form into balls. If too dry, add additional cherry juice one teaspoon at a time.
- Shape Cookies: Form the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, ensuring they are not too small to balance the Hershey’s Kiss topping. Arrange the balls on ungreased cookie sheets or sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn light golden brown.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Once baking is complete, leave the cookies on the sheet and gently press an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each warm cookie. Allow to rest on the tray for 5 minutes to let the chocolate soften slightly.
- Cool Cookies: Transfer the cookies to cooling racks and let them cool completely before glazing.
- Prepare and Apply Glaze (Optional): Mix powdered sugar, water, and almond extract to create a smooth glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies and allow it to harden before serving.
Notes
- If the dough feels too dry, add cherry juice slowly to reach the right consistency.
- Dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses complement the cherry flavor best but milk chocolate can be substituted.
- Food coloring is optional and only needed if you want a more vivid pink color.
- Make sure to cool cookies fully before glazing to avoid melting the glaze.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chocolate Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Cookies, Hershey's Kiss Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Almond Extract Cookies, Festive Desserts
