christmas jewels

This recipe was submitted to our cookie contest by Ellen Wexler of Royal Oak and I’m happy to announce that she’s the winner of our contest! There were so many yummy recipes entered it was very hard to choose so I posted some of my other favorites as well.

This recipe is special to Ellen because these cookies look like Christmas, smell like Christmas and taste like Christmas and the people that she loves love them and look forward to them every year! 

1 cup room temp. butter

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 large egg

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. almond extract

2 ¼  cups unbleached all purpose flour

½ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups candied cherries (red and/or green)

1 tbsp. flour

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

red and/or green colored sugars

Beat butter with electric mixer at medium-high for one minute.  Add confectioner’s sugar on low until mixed in, then at medium-high for 2-3 minutes until fluffy.  Add egg and extracts and beat in well, another minute or two at medium-high speed.  Add salt to flour and mix together.  Add flour mixture slowly and until mixed in well, do not overbeat.

Cut candied cherries in half. Toss in small bowl with the 1 tablespoon of flour to coat them. Add cherries and pecans to dough and stir in by hand until evenly incorporated.

On waxed paper or plastic wrap, shape dough into three logs 1 to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Roll each log in colored sugar and wrap in plastic or waxed paper. You may chill in refrigerator but I prefer the freezer, 4 hours, overnight, or weeks ahead.

When ready to bake, heat oven to 350’ degrees. Slice logs into ¼” slices with sharp, think knife. Place on cookie sheet 1- 1 ½ inches apart.  Bake 12-14 minutes until just starting to tan at edges. Cool on racks.

These store in the freezer beautifully for weeks, baked or unbaked. They are wonderful last minute gifts or for guests as you can keep the rolls in the freezer and slice off how ever many you need. And they are so festive looking.  You can use green cherries and red sugar or the other way around if you cannot find both colors of everything.  They have a marvelous rich and buttery flavor and pretty much melt in your mouth. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!