Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies

Teresa Ambra

Cherry Cream Cheese Cookies are marvelous to bake for holiday and office parties, Christmas Cookie Exchanges and even tailgating parties during the holidays. These lovely Thumbprint Cookies are filled with Cherry Preserves and include just a hint of lemon. They will cure any sweet tooth craving and satisfy your desire for a sweet treat anytime--day or night!

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Prep Time 25

Cook Time 15

Total Time 40

Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 118 kcal

Equipment

3 large 18x26" cookie sheet pans
cooking spray
1 large mixing bowl
1 electric mixer
1 wooden spoon
measuring cups
measuring spoons
1 hand grater or zester to zest fresh lemons

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
2 large eggs
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind (fresh preferred)
4 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup cherry preserves
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar (or as needed)

Instructions

Combine butter, granulated sugar and softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, mixing until well blended.
Blend in eggs, lemon juice and rind.
Add combined dry ingredients; mix well.
Chill dough at least one hour.
Shape level tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls.
Place on cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray.
Using thumb or finger indent centers; fill each indentation with about 1/8 to ¼ tsp. of cherry preserves.
Bake at 350° for about 15-20 minutes.
Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks after 10 minutes of baking time.
Cool; sift confectioner’s sugar over top of each cookie.

Notes

NOTE: You must chill the dough before baking. (I actually chilled the dough about 3 ½ hours before using in the recipe.)

NOTE: The amount of powdered sugar is based on approximately ½ teaspoon of powdered sugar sprinkled or sifted over each cookie. If you use more than that amount, the amount will obviously increase.

NOTE: Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks after 10 minutes of baking time.

NOTE: You can use either fresh zested lemon rind or jarred lemon rind for this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 44mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 153IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cherries, cherry preserves, cookies, cream cheese, dessert, holiday, holiday baking

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