Cherry Snowball Cookies

Surprise!  It's not Sunday.  I decided if I'm going to get through all my Christmas cookie ideas, I'm going to have to post more often.  I also decided to add 3x5 recipe cards for all you that might be going to a cookie exchange party and need to bring recipe cards. Just right click and save on the card you'd like.

 On today's cookie. . . .

Cherry Snowballs.  These are basically a cherry macaroon.  

I think the red and white colors of these cookies are perfect for Christmas.  

So I named them Cherry Snowballs. 

 Drain the contents of 1 (10-oz) bottle of maraschino cherries.  

And roughly chop them.

 In a mixing bowl, cream 1-1/2 cups of sugar and 1-1/3 cups shortening.

 Add 2 eggs and beat until fluffy.

 Add in 3-1/2 cups flour

 2 teaspoons baking powder

 2 teaspoons baking soda 

and a 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Mix until well incorporated.

 Now add in 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract (mine is clear so it's kind of hard to see, but trust me, it's there.) 

 Add the chopped cherries to the dough

 along with 1 cup coconut.  Mix until just combined.  DO NOT over mix or your dough will turn pink, you do not want this.

 Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

 Do not over bake these.  Remove almost immediately and allow cookies to cool on a wire rack.

CHERRY SNOWBALLS

1 (10 oz) jar of maraschino cherries

1-1/2 cups sugar

1-1/3 cups shortening

2 eggs

3-1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract

1 cup coconut

Drain maraschino cherries, set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening.  Add eggs and beat until fluffy.  Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with creamed mixture.  Add almond extract, chopped cherries, and coconut.  Mix until just incorporated.  Do not over mix or dough will turn pink.  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Remove almost immediately and allow cookies to cool on a wire rack.

kit used:  A Winter Pixel from bitsoscrap.blogspot.com