Description
Cherry Pistachio Snowballs are delightful, buttery cookies that combine the sweetness of maraschino cherries with the crunch of pistachios, creating a festive treat perfect for the holiday season. Coated in powdered sugar, these cookies are not only beautiful but also melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They are easy to make and are sure to be a hit at any gathering!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cake flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
- ½ cup pistachios, chopped (salted or unsalted)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cherries:
- Remove the liquid from a 12-ounce jar of maraschino cherries. Place the cherries in a colander and cover with paper towels. Press gently to remove excess liquid, ensuring they are moist but not soaking wet.
- Mix the Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
- Add Cherries and Nuts:
- Carefully fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and pistachios, mixing until evenly distributed.
- Chill the Dough:
- Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. This helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- Form the Cookies:
- Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, form tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie, as they do not spread much during baking.
- Bake:
- Bake the cookies for 18-22 minutes or until they feel firm with slightly golden brown bottoms. The cookies should be soft-baked, not crunchy.
- Coat in Powdered Sugar:
- Once the cookies are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Then, add them one or two at a time to a shallow dish filled with powdered sugar, rolling them to coat completely.
- Enjoy:
- Once the cookies are fully coated in powdered sugar, enjoy them! Store any leftovers in an airtight container once they are completely cooled.
Notes
- Ensure that you thoroughly drain the cherries to prevent excess moisture in the dough, which could affect the cookie texture.
- For added flavor, consider using finely chopped pistachios on top after rolling in powdered sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg