Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

christmas cherry balls

(2 ratings)
gramsgirls avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Val Paris
@gramsgirls
Rome, NY

Another traditional Christmas cookie recipe. They're good for any time of year, but they are a must on our cookie platter. This is a combination of many recipes, suited to my oldest daughter's taste. She's the fussy one in the family!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This cookie is a great treat anytime but will be a beautiful addition to your Christmas cookies. They bake up soft and tender, with chunks of cherries and nuts. The cookie itself is not overly sweet. Once the glaze is added, there is just the right amount of sweetness. In the Test Kitchen, we added almond flavoring and loved that flavor combined the cherry. Very festive!

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
prep time 25 Min
cook time 12 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For christmas cherry balls

  • COOKIES
  • 1 1/4 c
    oil
  • 2
    eggs
  • 1/2 c
    milk
  • 1/2
    the juice of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla or almond extract
  • 5-5 1/2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 c
    sugar
  • 2 1/2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • red food coloring
  • 1/4
    of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries, chopped
  • nuts, chopped
  • ICING
  • 1 1/2 c
    powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp
    almond extract
  • enough cherry juice and water to thin the glaze to proper consistency

How To Make christmas cherry balls

  • Wet ingredients stirred together in a bowl.
    1
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the cookies, mix together the oil, eggs, milk, cherry juice, and vanilla in a large bowl.
  • Dry ingredients sifted together.
    2
    In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Slowly adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
    3
    Add the red food coloring to the color desired to the wet mixture. Then gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet.
  • Stirring in cherries.
    4
    Stir in the cherries and nuts. The dough will be very thick.
  • Forming dough into balls.
    5
    Form into balls.
  • Cookies baking in the oven.
    6
    Bake 10-12 minutes.
  • Adding a glaze to the cookies.
    7
    To make the icing, combine the powdered sugar, almond extract, and a bit of cherry juice and water. Mix. Add more cherry juice and water according to your taste and desired consistency. Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the icing. You can also frost with your favorite frosting or glaze. Add sprinkles if desired.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
ADVERTISEMENT