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Buttery snowball cookies dusted generously in confectioners’ sugar and arranged for serving.

Cherry Snowball Cookies

Cherry Snowball Cookies are buttery almond shortbread-style cookies filled with whole candied cherries and generously coated in icing sugar for a delicate, festive finish.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American (Holiday Baking)
Keyword: Cherry Snowball Cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 48 Cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ¼ cup icing sugar plus additional for rolling
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blanched almonds finely chopped
  • 1 pound whole candied cherries

Instructions

Preheat the Oven

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Cream Butter and Sugar

  • In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and icing sugar together until smooth and light in texture. This process should take approximately 2–3 minutes to ensure proper aeration.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients

  • Add the sifted all-purpose flour and salt to the creamed mixture. Mix gently until partially combined. Add the vanilla extract and finely chopped almonds, and continue mixing until a cohesive dough forms. Do not overmix.

Shape the Cookies

  • Using approximately one teaspoon of dough per cookie, flatten the dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Place one whole candied cherry in the center. Enclose the cherry completely with the dough and roll into a smooth ball.

Arrange and Bake

  • Place the shaped dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about two inches between each cookie. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.

Coat with Icing Sugar

  • Remove the cookies from the oven. While still warm, roll each cookie in additional icing sugar to coat thoroughly. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, roll in icing sugar again if desired for a more pronounced snowy appearance.

Notes

To prepare Cherry Snowball Cookies gluten free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Ensure that the icing sugar and candied cherries are certified gluten free, as some brands may contain additives derived from wheat.