Snowball Cookies (Cherries)

cherrysnowballs Cherry Snowballs are easy holiday cookies with only 4 ingredients. Buttery cookies with a maraschino cherry center rolled in confectioners' sugar. Festive holiday cookies like Italian Wedding Cookies are perfect for gifting, cookies platters and cookie exchanges.

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 (6 oz) jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved
confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C/140°C fan, Gas Mark 3).

In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.

Gradually add flour and mix until well combined.

Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each cherry, forming a ball.

Place 1" apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.

Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 30 cookies.

Variations:

Cherry Coconut Snowball Cookies: Roll Cherry Snowballs first in a Buttercream Frosting and then into finely shredded sweet coconut.
Lemon: Easily make these into Lemon Cherry Snowballs by adding 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 tablespoon lemon zest to the dough.
Chocolate Chips: Add chopped white chocolate chips or mini dark chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Melt chocolate chips to coat baked Snowballs for a cookie truffle.
Chocolate: Make Chocolate Cherry Snowballs by sifting 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder into the flour. Drizzle Chocolate Ganache over baked cookies. Turn them into Mexican Hot Chocolate Showballs by adding a pinch of cinnamon, too.
Almond Cherry Cookies: Cherry and almond extract taste amazing together (like a cherry cordial!) Use a bit of almond extract and finely chopped almonds to give this signature flavor.
Cherries: Instead of maraschino cherries, you can use red or green candied cherries or other candied fruit like pineapple. If you want a more adult cookie, use Luxardo cherries (liquor soaked cherries).