Day 10: White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

I can't believe we are already at Day 10. That means Christmas is almost here. Here's a delicious cookie that combines cherries and white chocolate to make this exquisite cookie. I found it on Pinterest (Better Home & Gardens) It's very simple to make and has only 6 ingredients and no eggs.

Recipe:
1/2 C maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
2 1/2 C Flour
1/2 C Sugar
1 C cold butter, cut in large cubes
12 ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Pre-heat over to 325 degrees
Finely chop the cherries and set aside preferably on a paper towel. Finely chop 8 ounces of the white chocolate. Set aside.

 In a large bowl combine the flour and sugar. Add the cubed cold butter. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

 Add the cherries, white chocolate and almond extract. Mix together.

 Using your hands, knead the mixture until dough forms. It will start out feeling pretty pretty dry but by the end the dough should come together easily.

 Form into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press each ball down with the bottom of a glass. Bake for 9-10 minutes.

 Once the cookies are down and cooling, start melting the remaining white chocolate. So we used a baking white chocolate bar for inside the cookies and used white chocolate chips to melt. Whatever is easiest for you. The easiest way to melt chocolate is to place it in a microwave safe bowl and heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds. Stir and then heat again for 10 seconds. Stir. Heat for 10 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is completely melted. Do not over cook!

 Dip each cookie in the melted chocolate and let cool on a piece of wax paper or on a wire rack with a paper towel underneath. At this point you can also decorate the cookie by place the chocolate side of the cookie in sprinkles or edible glitter.

 Another trick is to put red food coloring in the dough so the cookies are completely red. Skies the limit:-) I had to rush the last few pictures because i was trying to get them out the door for K to take to the hospital. Though the pictures aren't fantastic, the cookies were very good. It was our first time making them and I really love them. They will definitely be making a re-appearance come Valentines Day:-)

Enjoy!