Cherry Blossom Chocolate Cookies (Printable Version)

Soft pink cookies with maraschino cherries and chocolate kisses - a festive treat perfect for holidays or special gatherings.

# Ingredients:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
02 - 1 cup powdered sugar
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice
05 - ¼ teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla or cherry extract)
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra as needed
07 - 1 cup maraschino cherries, finely chopped

→ Coating & Topping

08 - ¼ cup granulated sugar, for rolling
09 - 24 Hershey's Kisses
10 - ½ cup chocolate chips, melted (optional for drizzling)

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and confectioners sugar until light and fluffy.
02 - Mix in the cherry juice and your chosen extract (almond, vanilla, or cherry) until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
03 - Add 2 cups of flour and salt, mixing on low speed until fully incorporated. Gradually add additional flour by tablespoons until the dough reaches a play-dough consistency and can be handled without sticking to hands.
04 - Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries just until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
05 - Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar until fully coated.
06 - Place the sugar-coated dough balls on a plate or tray and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to firm up.
07 - While the dough chills, preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
08 - Arrange the chilled dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are set but not browned.
09 - Immediately after removing from the oven, gently press a Hershey's Kiss into the center of each warm cookie.
10 - Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a serving plate or storage container.

# Notes:

01 - For a decorative effect, reserve part of the dough without cherry juice to create a pink and white swirl pattern.
02 - Don't skip chilling the dough as it helps the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
03 - As an alternative to Hershey's Kisses, you can drizzle melted chocolate over cooled cookies for a different presentation.

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