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Best Valentines Day Cherry Cookies

Best Valentine’s Day Cherry Cookies

Soft, buttery cherry cookies topped with a chocolate kiss—perfectly festive, tender, and irresistibly sweet for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 165
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 6 oz maraschino cherries finely chopped
  • 5 tsp maraschino cherry juice
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • 8 drops red food coloring optional
  • 24 pieces chocolate kisses unwrapped and chilled

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Finely chop maraschino cherries and reserve the juice. Chill chocolate kisses.
  3. Cream butter, powdered sugar, salt, and baking powder until light and fluffy.
  4. Mix in cherry juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and food coloring (if using).
  5. Gradually mix in 2 cups of flour until a soft dough forms.
  6. Fold in chopped cherries and remaining 1/2 cup flour until evenly combined.
  7. Chill dough for 10 minutes.
  8. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes until cookies are set but still soft in the center.
  10. Immediately press a chilled chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.
  11. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  12. Refrigerate cookies for 10 minutes to set the chocolate.

Notes

For best color and texture, pat cherries dry before chopping. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days.