The perfect cookies for company, cookie boxes, and the freezer!

Butter cookies with cherries and chocolate

Watch the video:

These decorated butter cookies with cherries are the most beautiful ones you’ve seen. I used this recipe to make Italian butter cookies around Christmas time a few years ago, and recently I made them to put in cookie boxes for gifts. They were a little smaller with maraschino cherries, and I dipped them in chocolate. When I posted pictures on my Instagram stories, everyone wanted the recipe. So, here it is! It makes a big batch of about 65-70 individual cookies, and I can’t wait for you to try them.

Why these cookies will be everyone’s favorite

Crisp, buttery cookie

Sweet juicy cherry

Rich semi-sweet chocolate

Smooth white chocolate

Crunchy almonds

Colorful sprinkles

The perfect buttery cookie for dipping or sandwiching and eating or gifting!

Everything you need

For the Cookies:

Unsalted butter -softened
Granulated sugar
Eggs at room temperature
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Pure vanilla extract
Salt

Toppings/Fillings:

Semi-sweet chocolate -or your favorite chocolate melted
White chocolate -melted
Pitted maraschino cherries -drained and dried
Sprinkles
Sliced almonds
Apricot or raspberry jam
Sweetened coconut

How to make Decorated Butter Cookies with Cherries

Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °C.
Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
In the bowl of a tabletop mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
Beat together on high speed until fluffy -about 3-5 minutes.
Add the eggs and beat until incorporated.
Then, add the flour mixture in a few batches and beat on low speed until incorporated.
Fill a pastry bag fitted with an open star decorating tip halfway with the cookie batter.
Pipe swirls or stars of batter on the prepared baking pans, leaving some room between each cookie as they will rise. (See video)
Drain the Maraschino cherries, dry them with a paper towel, and place a cherry in the center of each cookie.
Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges.
Allow the cookies to cool completely.
Dip the cookies 1/3 of the way in chocolate and then into sprinkles, almonds, or shredded coconut.
Set them aside to set.
Alternatively, place the trays in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden the chocolate.

Baker’s tips!

Keep in mind that as soon as you make the batter, you’ll want to pipe the cookies. As the batter sits, it stiffens and becomes harder to pipe out of the bag. The tighter you keep the bag, the easier it is, and if you happen to have a cookie press lying around, this is the perfect time to use it. You can make differently shaped cookies to decorate. If you don’t care for cherries, use jam or jelly in the center or leave them plain.

To dip or to fill

I like to have melted white and dark chocolate ready to dunk these cookies in and a variety of toppings. I use sprinkles and sliced almonds, but sweetened coconut would be good too. These cookies also work well sandwiched! You can fill them with chocolate or jam and sandwich them together. Apricot and raspberry jam are the most popular fillings, but I love filling them with semi-sweet chocolate.

Serve or freeze!

Few things are better than one of these butter cookies with a hot cup of Greek coffee. So, eat one immediately and store the rest in an airtight container at room temperature for a week or two. If you’re making them for gifts, fill a box with as many cookies as possible and tie the box with a beautiful ribbon. If you’re making them so you can always have them on hand, store the decorated cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month! Kali Orexi!

More Cookie Recipes:

Italian Butter Cookies with Cherries and Chocolate

Yield: 65-70 single cookies

These Italian Butter Cookies are crisp, buttery, and beautifully decorated with maraschino cherries, melted chocolate, sprinkles, almonds, or coconut. Pipe them into classic swirls and stars or sandwich them with jam or chocolate. This large-batch recipe is perfect for Christmas cookie boxes, edible gifts, parties, and special occasions.

Ingredients

For the Butter Cookies:

12 ounces (340 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
3 and ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 and ¼ teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt

Toppings and Fillings:

Semi-sweet chocolate, melted
White chocolate, melted
Pitted maraschino cherries, drained and thoroughly dried
Sprinkles
Sliced almonds
Apricot or raspberry jam
Sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

Prepare the Oven and Pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Line 3 baking trays with parchment paper.
Combine the Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a mixing bowl. Whisk until combined and set aside.
Make the Cookie Dough: Add the softened butter, sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a tabletop mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Beat on high speed for 3–5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs and beat until incorporated.
Add the flour mixture in several batches and mix on low speed just until incorporated.
Pipe the Cookies: Fit a pastry bag with a large open-star decorating tip. Fill the pastry bag only halfway with cookie dough so it is easier to handle.
Pipe the dough into swirls or stars on the prepared baking trays, leaving space between each cookie because they will rise slightly.
Pipe the cookies as soon as the dough is prepared. The dough will become stiffer and more difficult to pipe as it sits.
Add the Cherries: Drain the maraschino cherries and dry them thoroughly with paper towels.
Press one cherry into the center of each piped cookie. The cookies may also be left plain for dipping or sandwiching after baking.
Bake the Cookies: Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
Transfer the cookies to cooling racks and allow them to cool completely before decorating.
Dip and Decorate the Cookies: Dip approximately one-third of each cooled cookie into melted semi-sweet or white chocolate.
Immediately dip or sprinkle the chocolate-covered portion with sprinkles, sliced almonds, or shredded coconut.
Set the decorated cookies aside until the chocolate has hardened. To speed up the process, place the trays in the freezer for approximately 15 minutes.
Make Sandwich Cookies: Spread melted chocolate, apricot jam, or raspberry jam over the flat side of one cookie.
Place a second cookie on top and gently press to create a sandwich.
Allow the filling to set before serving.
Serve: Arrange the cookies on a serving platter and serve with coffee or tea. Kali Orexi.

Notes

Room-Temperature Butter: The butter should be softened but not melted. Properly softened butter will combine smoothly with the sugar and make the dough easier to pipe.
Pipe Immediately: Pipe the cookies as soon as the dough is mixed because the dough becomes stiffer as it rests.
Fill the Pastry Bag Halfway: A half-filled pastry bag is easier to grip tightly and makes the thick butter-cookie dough easier to pipe.
Cookie Press: A cookie press may be used instead of a pastry bag to create different shapes.
Maraschino Cherries: Drain and dry the cherries thoroughly before pressing them into the cookie dough. Excess liquid can bleed into the cookies.
Cherry Alternatives: Replace the cherries with a small spoonful of jam or jelly, or leave the centers plain.
Decorating Options: Dip the cookies in semi-sweet or white chocolate and finish them with sprinkles, sliced almonds, or sweetened coconut.
Sandwich Cookies: Pair cookies of similar sizes and fill them with melted chocolate, apricot jam, or raspberry jam.
Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1–2 weeks.
Freezing: Store the decorated cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Filoxenia Hosting Tip: Prepare a variety of shapes and decorations from one batch. Arrange the cherry-topped, chocolate-dipped, and sandwich cookies together on a large platter or pack them into cookie boxes for an elegant homemade gift.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Decorated Butter Cookies with Cherries

Watch the video: