Weather they are for a party, an after school snack or just munching while you watch tv, cookies are at the top of the list of everyones favorite sweet treat. With more exotic dried fruits becoming easier to find and in some cases more economical than fresh fruit, it makes sense to make a cookie out of one of Americas favorite fruits - the cherry.
Cherries are said to be high in antioxidants, contain high levels of vitamin C and beta carotene. With the health benefits of this tasty little fruit added to the vitamin C of the orange, these cookies offer health benefits as well as being a delicious treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 c butter
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 c brown sugar
- 3/4 c granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp orange extract
- 2 tbsp grated orange peel (fresh or dried)
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/4 c triple sec
- 1/2 c half & half
- 1/2 c sour cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 3/4 c flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 c dried cherries
- 1 c white chocolate chips
Directions:
- heat oven to 350
- in large bowl, mix softened (not melted) butter with firmly packed brown sugar and white sugar
- add eggs and mix until well incorporated
- mix in orange peel
- stir in sour cream until mixture is smooth
- in small bowl, mix triple sec, orange extract, almond extract and half & half
- in a separate bowl, sift flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder
- add dry ingredients alternately with wet ingredients into butter and egg mixture being sure to mix well after each addition
- when all of the wet and dry ingredients have been mixed together, add cherries and chocolate pieces mixing just enough to incorporate
- drop by tablespoon full onto cookie sheets
- bake in pre-heated oven for 10 - 12 minutes until a light golden brown
For a festive alternative, omit white chocolate chips from batter. After cookies have cooled dip them halfway in melted white chocolate. Using green and red candied cherries cut out wedges to be used as leaf decorations. These can be placed on top of the white chocolate before it dries.
These cookies can also be made into tasty wreaths. While cookies are still warm, use a doughnut hole cutter to cut out center of cookie. Dip top of cookie in melted white chocolate, while chocolate is still wet sprinkle with red and green sugar crystals and decorate with wedges of candied cherry.
An equally delicious way to enjoy these cookies is to make blueberry lemon cookies. Use the same recipe above substituting dried blueberries for the cherries and lemon extract and lemon rind for the orange. Also substitute vanilla extract for the almond.
