Description
Cherry Pie Cookies are delightful thumbprint cookies filled with sweet cherry pie filling, offering a perfect balance of buttery dough and fruity sweetness. These classic American dessert cookies are easy to make and ideal for holidays or any occasion that calls for a festive, fruit-filled treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Filling & Optional Toppings
- 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
- Optional: ½ cup white chocolate chips or glaze for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which will create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract thoroughly to incorporate moisture and flavor throughout the dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms, making sure not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Form Dough Balls and Make Indentations: Roll the dough into 1 ½-inch balls and arrange them spaced on the prepared baking sheets. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to press a small indentation into the center of each ball to hold the cherry filling.
- Fill with Cherry Pie Filling: Spoon 1–2 cherries from the cherry pie filling into each indentation, adding just enough to fill without overflow.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to turn golden, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool the Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps set their shape and texture.
- Add Optional Drizzle: Once cooled, optionally drizzle the cookies with melted white chocolate or a vanilla glaze for added sweetness and decorative appeal.
Notes
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- For variety, try replacing the cherry pie filling with blueberry or apple pie filling to create different flavor profiles.
- Make sure to not overfill the indentations to prevent the filling from spilling over during baking.
