Chocolate Cherry Blossoms Recipe

Introduction

Chocolate Cherry Blossoms are a delightful twist on the classic blossom cookie, combining tender cherry-flavored dough with rich dark chocolate kisses. These festive treats offer a perfect balance of fruity sweetness and chocolatey goodness, ideal for any special occasion or holiday baking.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons cherry juice (from the maraschino jar)
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries (chopped)
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 bag Hershey Kisses (dark chocolate recommended)
• 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 1 tablespoon water (for glaze)
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (for glaze)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar until creamy and well combined.
3. Step 3: Add the cherry juice, chopped maraschino cherries, and 3/4 teaspoon almond extract to the butter mixture. Mix thoroughly. Optionally, add food coloring to achieve a pinker dough.
4. Step 4: Gradually mix in the flour until the dough comes together. The dough will be dry but should form balls. If too dry, add additional cherry juice 1 teaspoon at a time.
5. Step 5: Shape the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets or on parchment paper or silicone mats.
6. Step 6: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the bottom edges turn a light golden brown.
7. Step 7: Remove from oven and immediately press a Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie. Leave them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set.
8. Step 8: Transfer cookies to cooling racks and cool completely before glazing.
9. Step 9 (optional glaze): Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 teaspoon almond extract until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies and allow to harden before serving.

Tips & Variations

• For a more vivid color, add a few drops of red or pink food coloring to the dough.
• If you don’t have maraschino cherries, try substituting with finely chopped dried cherries soaked briefly in cherry juice.
• Dark chocolate Hershey Kisses add a richer flavor, but milk or white chocolate can be used for a different taste.
• Ensure cookie balls are uniform in size to promote even baking and consistent appearance.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you add the glaze, allow it to fully harden before stacking. To keep them longer, freeze the cookies (without glaze) for up to three months and thaw at room temperature before adding glaze.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino cherries?

Fresh cherries have more moisture and a different flavor. While fresh cherries can be used, you will need to finely chop and drain them well to avoid affecting dough consistency. Maraschino cherries provide sweetness and color that complement the dough better.

What if I don’t have cherry juice from maraschino cherries?

You can substitute cherry juice with a small amount of cherry-flavored syrup or juice from canned cherries. Adjust the quantity carefully to avoid making the dough too wet.

Chocolate Cherry Blossoms Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 122 reviews

• Author: Elara
• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 24 cookies 1x

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Description

Delight in these Chocolate Cherry Blossoms, tender buttery cookies infused with cherry juice and bits of maraschino cherries, topped with a rich Hershey’s Kiss and optionally drizzled with a sweet almond glaze. Perfect for festive gatherings or a special treat, these cookies combine the fruity sweetness of cherries with the deep flavor of dark chocolate in a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons cherry juice (from the maraschino cherry jar)
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Topping

• 1 bag Hershey’s Kisses, dark chocolate preferred

Optional Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
2. Cream butter and sugar: In a mixer bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Add cherries and flavorings: Mix in the cherry juice, chopped maraschino cherries, and almond extract until fully combined. You may add a few drops of food coloring if you wish to enhance the pink color of the dough.
4. Incorporate flour: Gradually add the flour and mix until the dough comes together. The dough will be somewhat dry but should be moist enough to form into balls. If too dry, add additional cherry juice, one teaspoon at a time.
5. Form cookie balls: Shape the dough into balls approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Avoid making them too small as the Hershey’s Kisses topping will dominate. Place the balls onto ungreased cookie sheets or onto sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats.
6. Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn a light golden brown.
7. Add chocolate kisses: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while still warm on the baking sheet, gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. Leave on the sheet for 5 minutes to allow the candies to soften slightly and adhere to the cookies.
8. Cool cookies: Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely.
9. Prepare and apply glaze (optional): Stir together the powdered sugar, water, and almond extract to form a smooth glaze. Drizzle this over the cooled cookies and let it set until hardened before serving.

Notes

• Using dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses creates a richer flavor contrast with the sweet cherry cookie.
• If the dough feels too dry, adding more cherry juice a teaspoon at a time is recommended to maintain proper consistency.
• For a deeper pink color, a few drops of red food coloring can be added to the dough.
• Cookies should be baked until the edges are just golden to keep them soft inside.
• Do not unwrap the Hershey’s Kisses until immediately before placing them on the warm cookies to avoid melting too early.
• The glaze is optional but adds a lovely sweet almond flavor and decorative finish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate cherry blossoms, cherry cookie recipe, Hershey’s Kiss cookies, cherry blossom cookies, almond flavored cookies, holiday cookie recipe