Cherry Icebox cookies
One of my friends loves these cookies and they are a must have every Christmas season for her and her family. Icebox cookies are a favorite of many people due to the easy and quick make-up method used to create them. They are simple, sweet and oh so delicious.
This year when I decided to grab one of these little gems they brought back memories of my childhood and all the fun times I spent in the kitchen with my grandmothers and my Aunt. My aunt is a big, I mean BIG christmas cookie baker/fan. Last year I think she and her girlfriends made nearly 90 dozen cookies to gift to friends and family.
When you are deciding to gift cookies you are looking for recipes that are easy and fun as well as delicious. These cookies fit that bill perfectly.
Ingredients
Yeilds: 4 dozen
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 (10 oz) jars maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
Red Food color
Directions
In a medium bowl, beat together the butter and shortening. Add the sugar and cream the mixture well. (Pro Tip: Creaming is a term used to refer to the light and creamy nature of the butter and sugar mixture in the mixing process of baking.) Mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture.
Pat the cherries between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Stir cherries and red food coloring (Enough to make light pink) into the dough. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
Shape cold dough into 2 logs. Wrap in wax paper and chill again until firm (about 1 hour in the refrigerator, or 20-30 minutes in the freezer).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray.
Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4 inch slices. Place on the prepared cookie sheets, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute before removing from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
