Want a cookie with delicate cherry flavor combined with a bit of chocolate? You've got to try these cherry blossom cookies! A soft, tender shortbread cookie that's lightly flavored with cherry juice and maraschino cherries topped with a Hershey's kiss. These cherry kisses melt in your mouth and make a great addition to a spring or summer table!
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This cherry cookie recipe is one I turn to when I want a fantastic looking cookie but don't have tons of time to spend in the kitchen.
Even if you don't love baking, this cookie recipe is easy to make for all levels of cooking experience.
They're perfect to serve up for a summer party, picnic, potluck, cookout, or simply as a treat for the family.
If you love these cookies, try these sugar cookie blossoms which are perfect for spring or these chocolate cherry cookies which feature similar flavors!
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Ingredients
All you need to make cherry blossom cookies are a few simple ingredients! Here's a look at the main ingredients.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter for more control over the flavor of your cherry cookies. Be sure you let it soften before mixing.
- Sugar: These cookies use confectioners sugar to make the cookie dough and then the cookies are rolled in granulated sugar before cooking to give them a nice crust.
- Salt: Just enough to bring all the flavors together!
- Cherries: Use maraschino cherries! We will be using a bit of the juice to flavor the cookie dough and also mixing in the cherries into the cookies.
- Flavoring: There are three different options you can use to flavor the cookies. Use cherry extract for a more intense cherry flavor or you can use almond extract which pairs beautifully with the cherry pieces and juice. My personal favorite is vanilla extract which I find enhances the natural flavor of the ingredients in the cookies.
- All purpose flour:
- Hershey Kisses: I love using classic milk chocolate Hershey’s kisses for these cookies.
See the recipe card further down the page for the exact quantity of each ingredient.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few swaps you can make that have been tested so you can comfortably use them with similar results.
- More pink color: If you're looking for a more intense pink color to your cherry cookies you can add some pink food coloring to the dough or roll the cookies in pink granulated sugar instead of white.
- Milk chocolate kisses: Instead of the Hershey's kisses drizzle your cookies with melted chocolate or top them with chocolate chips. You can even use a combination of white chocolate drizzle and chocolate drizzle for a more striking look.
- Gluten-free: Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free 1-to1 substitute.
- Change up your kisses: Use dark chocolate kisses, white chocolate kisses, Hershey's hugs, or any other filled or flavored kisses.
Looking for another recipe made with the amazing combination of chocolate and cherry? Try this chocolate cherry dump cake! It's easy to make and tastes great.
How to Make Cherry Blossom Cookies
These cherry blossom cookies go together in just a few easy steps. Here's an overview along with some tips to ensure your cookies turn out great.
- Beat the butter and confectioners sugar together until the texture is light and fluffy. It’s best to use an electric mixer or stand mixer for this step.
PRO TIP: Start with softened butter so it beats up creamier and fluffier.
- Add the cherry juice and whichever extract you want to use. Mix again until the mixture is smooth.
- Add two cups of flour and mix on low until the flour is fully incorporated into the butter and sugar mixture. Mix in a couple more tablespoons of flour into the cookie dough in intervals until the dough is not sticky.
PRO TIP: The goal is a consistency similar to playdough. You want the dough moist enough to stick together when lightly rolled in a ball but it should not stick to your hands. You can slowly add more flour or liquid to the dough to achieve this texture.
- Add the chopped cherries and stir just to mix them into the dough.
- Measure out a scoop of dough using a tablespoon and shape it into a small ball. Repeat to shape all the cookie dough. Roll each ball in the granulated sugar until the entire ball is coated.
- Chill the dough balls for at least 20 minutes before baking. While the dough is chilling you can go ahead and preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare your baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Place the cookies evenly spaced on your prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until baked through.
- Remove the cookies from the oven.
- Place a Hershey's kiss in the center of each cookie and then allow the cookies to cool before serving.
Storage
These cherry kisses cookies are best fresh especially when the cookies are cooled but the chocolate is still soft and warm.
If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, store them at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to four days for the best results.
Expert Tips and FAQS
Here are a few tips to make sure you cherry blossom cookies come out great!
- Don't skip the parchment. These cookies are soft and working with them on parchment is ideal.
- You may need to adjust the consistency of the dough. The brand of flour you use and the temperature of your kitchen influence the dough. You may need to add more more flour if it's too sticky or some moisture if it's too hard to shape into a ball.
- Add more liquid or flour in small amounts. This allows you to slowly adjust the dough to get it just right!
- Chilling the dough is a vital step as it prevents the cookie from spreading out too much when cooked. Since the cookies are small, the chill time is short.
It can be tricky to tell when colored cookies are done. Look for subtle signs of the cookies browning along the edges. If you aren't sure, you can gently lift up a cookie using a spatula and peek at the bottom.
These cookies have a texture similar to a soft shortbread cookie with a subtle hint of cherry, almond, or vanilla flavor depending on the extract used to make the cookies. The cherry pieces add light hints of cherry throughout the cookie.
Any type of Hershey's kisses work great to make these cherry kiss cookies. I prefer milk chocolate which are sweeter with less bitterness. These cookies will also work with white chocolate kisses and dark chocolate kisses to name a few!
More Cookie Recipes
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Cherry Blossom Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon maraschino cherry juice liquid
- ¼ teaspoon almond vanilla or cherry extract
- 2- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour start with two cups
- 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar for rolling
- 24 Hershey Kisses
Instructions
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and confectioners sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the cherry juice and extract of choice and continue mixing until smooth.
- Add 2 cups of flour and mix on low until fully incorporated. Once the two cups are added, slowly add a couple of Tablespoons at a time until the dough resembles a playdough consistency and can be handled without sticking to hands.
- Carefully stir in the chopped cherries, just until combined.
- Use a Tablespoon round cookie dough scoop to form small cookie dough balls and roll the balls in granulated sugar until coated.
- Chill the dough balls for at least 20 minutes before baking.
- While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place cookies evenly apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until baked through.
- Remove from the oven and place a hershey kiss in the center of each cookie.
- Allow to cool before serving.
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