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Almond Cherry Cookies

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Tender, cake-like almond cherry cookies topped with creamy icing and juicy cherries—perfect for summer parties, gifting, or a sweet afternoon treat. Easy to make and crowd-pleasing, these cookies are a nostalgic comfort with a modern twist.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry (or fresh/frozen cherries)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk (any kind, dairy-free optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (for icing)
  • Pinch of salt (for icing)
  • 1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries (for topping)
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon cherry preserves or jam (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat cherries dry if wet.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
  4. Beat in egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract until combined.
  5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet mixture on low speed. Dough will be soft but not sticky.
  6. Gently fold in chopped cherries. Do not overmix.
  7. Portion tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart (yields 20-22 cookies).
  8. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and centers are soft. Rotate tray halfway if needed.
  9. Let cookies rest on sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
  10. While cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, almond extract, and pinch of salt for icing. Adjust thickness with more milk or sugar as needed.
  11. Spread icing on cooled cookies. Let set for 10 minutes.
  12. Top each cookie with chopped cherries and optional cherry preserves. Let cookies set for 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

For gluten-free cookies, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For nut-free, omit almond flour and extract. Pat cherries dry to prevent soggy cookies. Chill dough for 20 minutes if cookies spread too much. Cookies are best enjoyed fresh but stay tender for up to 3 days. Freeze un-iced cookies for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: almond cherry cookies, summer cookies, iced cookies, party dessert, easy cookie recipe, cherry dessert, almond flour cookies, kid-friendly cookies, gluten-free option, nut-free option

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/almond-cherry-cookies-recipe-easy-iced-treats-for-summer-parties/