Candied Cherry Shortbread Cookies

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Who says kids won’t eat green food? Candied cherry shortbread cookies that are filled with green candied cherries and have a candy-dipped bottom. They may look simple, but the buttery shortbread pairs perfectly with the vanilla candy melts for a lightly sweetened cookie the kids are sure to love!

cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe

For as much as I like a rich, chocolatey, caramel-dripping dessert, one of the flavors that I can never get enough of is simple shortbread.

cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe

Store-bought shortbread cookies are great dipped in milk or eaten with a cup of hot coffee. But do you know how to make shortbread cookies from scratch? The simple shortbread recipe I have for you today can be made with just 5 ingredients. The cookies are thick, buttery and just lightly sweet. I love their tenderness compared to the crisp store-bought variety.

cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe

You can use this basic shortbread cookie recipe and add in whatever your favorite ingredients are such as nuts, chocolate chips or cherries. We decided to make candied cherry shortbread cookies for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday. We took green candied cherries, chopped them and added them to the shortbread dough. Then, after the cookies were baked, we dipped the bottoms of the cookies in green melted Wilton candy melts and then sprinkled green nonpareils on the bottom to boost that green color.

cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe

Betcha your kids won’t mind eating this green food.

And think of how cute they’d be at Christmas dipped in red candy melts? Or for Easter dipped in yellow candy melts with pink sprinkles? The possibilities are endless.

Q: Do you love the simple flavor of shortbread or do you prefer sweeter, richer desserts?

cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe
cherry-shortbread-cookies-easy-cookie-recipe

Cherry Shortbread Cookies

4.67 from 3 votes
Candied Cherry Shortbread Cookies have a simple sugar cookie flavor, but dipping them in green candy melts makes them pop! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day.
Servings 28 cookies
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes

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Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • In a medium-size bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix well. Add the flour and mix until combined. Mix in the chopped cherries.
  • Divide the dough in two and roll each piece into a log that is about 2 1/2" in diameter. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  • Remove the plastic wrap and slice the dough into 1/2" thick slices.
  • Place the dough slices on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-13 minutes.
  • While the cookies are cooling, melt 8 ounces of Wilton candy melts according to package directions.
  • Pour some green nonpareil sprinkles on a plate. Dip the bottoms of the cooled cookies in the melted candy. Let the excess chocolate drip off, then carefully dip the coated cookie bottom in sprinkles. Place the decorated cookie on wax paper to set.
  • Repeat with the remaining cookies.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 39g | Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Calories 167

Find other cookie recipes here.

Find cherry recipes here.

About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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4.67 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)
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Laurel
4 years ago

5 stars
Great shortbread cookie and so fun to decorate. Very versatile for the holidays.

Sheryl@Lady Behind The Curtain
9 years ago

Oh my gosh these cookies are so much fun!

Jamie
9 years ago

I love that you used green cherries – there are definitely not enough recipes with them! 🙂

Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling
9 years ago

SUCH a creative idea, ladies! I love these!

Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner
9 years ago

These are wonderful cookies! Love the color and I’m a shortbread fan…

Megan - The Emotional Baker
9 years ago

What a great use for candied green cherries! I usually only use them at Christmas. It’s great when an ingredient can double for two holidays 😉

Catherine
9 years ago

This is such a fun, festive cookie. Pinning. xo, Catherine

Jocelyn @BruCrew Life
9 years ago

These shortbread cookies are one of my all time favorite cookies to make at Christmas, but I have never done them in a log shape or added cherries. What a fun way to change up this simple cookie by adding green! This is definitely how I want to add greens to my diet 😉