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Italian Cherry Almond Cookies

Italian Cherry Almond Cookies
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Italian Cherry Almond Cookies blend sweet dried cherries and crunchy toasted almonds in a chewy yet crisp cookie. Easy to make with minimal ingredients, these cookies balance nutty, tart, and sweet flavors with a classic Italian touch, perfect for any occasion from teatime to gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract

Add-ins

  • 3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 3/4 cup dried cherries

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant; set aside to cool.
  2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
  3. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and sugar together using a mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, incorporating air for tender cookies.
  4. Add the Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and almond extract into the creamed butter and sugar until fully combined, enhancing the cookie’s characteristic flavor.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently or mixing on low speed just until incorporated to avoid overmixing.
  6. Fold in Almonds and Cherries: Gently fold the toasted sliced almonds and dried cherries into the dough to distribute evenly throughout the batter.
  7. Shape and Bake: Use a spoon or cookie scoop to drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set but still soft.
  8. Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for better creaming and lighter texture.
  • Toast almonds to bring out deeper, richer flavor.
  • Fold dough gently and avoid overmixing to maintain tender cookies.
  • Chop larger dried cherries for more even distribution in each cookie.
  • Watch baking time carefully; slightly underbaked cookies remain soft and chewy after cooling.
  • For gluten-free version, substitute flour with a gluten-free blend.
  • Optional variations include adding chocolate chips, using vegan substitutes, or incorporating orange zest.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian cookies, cherry almond cookies, almond cookies, gluten-free cookies, dried cherry cookies, nutty cookies, chewy cookies, baking

Find it online: https://ninagourmet.com/italian-cherry-almond-cookies/