Christmas Cookies: White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

Here's a great recipe for some delicious cookies :)

Here's what you need:

- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries; drained and finely chopped

- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 1 cup cold butter

- 12 oz. white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter; finely chopped

- 1/2 tsp. almond extract

- 2 drops red food coloring (optional)

- 2 tsp. shortening

- White nonpareils and/or edible glitter (optional)

Here's what you do:

- Preheat oven at 325 degrees. Spread cherries on paper towel and drain well.

- In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. Stir in almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.

- Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.

- Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

- In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 60.

I am excited to try making these for myself! Hope you try them and give some feedback :) For this recipe and more go here

<3 Ashley