Name: Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 3 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup butter; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 1/4 cups flour; 1 cup chopped nuts; 2 cups candied cherries, quartered (red, green, or a combination)

The moment these festive beauties hit your oven, the whole kitchen fills with cozy warmth and sweet cherry aroma. This Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe is one of my go-to treats during the holidays—bright, cheerful, and perfectly tender with bursts of fruity goodness in every bite.

A white plate with a swirl pattern holds a pile of round cookies with a light golden-brown color and many red and green bits inside, giving a festive look. The cookies are arranged in two layers, some stacked and others visible on the bottom. Around the plate, there are green pine branches and shiny red Christmas baubles, one near the plate and one beside a glass of milk filled nearly to the top. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface, creating a bright and holiday-themed setting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, these cookies bring such a cheerful vibe to any holiday gathering. I love how the candied cherries add a festive pop of color and just the right chewiness. It’s a simple recipe, but it feels special enough to serve to your guests or wrap up as gifts.

Festive Flavor: The candied cherries provide a bright, sweet-tart balance that feels classic and seasonally perfect.
Easy Assembly: This cookie dough comes together quickly, making it great for last-minute baking sessions or holiday prep.
Colorful and Cheerful: Using a mix of red and green cherries instantly makes these cookies look joyful and inviting.
Perfect Texture: The combination of tender dough with crunchy chopped nuts creates a delightful bite every time.

A stack of six thick round cookies with a light golden color sits on a white marbled surface, each cookie filled with bright red pieces that are unevenly spread throughout. The cookies have a slightly rough texture with small cracks visible on the surface. Around the stack, there are more cookies lying flat with the same color and red pieces. In the background, blurred festive decorations include a red and gold gift box, some greenery, a shiny red ornament, and a tall nutcracker figure dressed in red and black. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays its role in making these cookies perfect for holiday indulgence. You don’t need a ton of fancy stuff—just basics that combine beautifully for texture, taste, and that pretty cherry burst.

Flat lay of a small block of pale yellow butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fine white powdered sugar, one whole uncracked brown egg, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a neatly mounded pile of white all-purpose flour, a small white bowl filled with chopped mixed nuts, a small white bowl containing quartered red and green candied cherries, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Butter: Using softened butter gives the dough tenderness and that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Powdered sugar: It dissolves seamlessly into the dough for a delicate sweetness and smooth texture.
Egg: Acts as a binder to hold everything together and adds richness.
Vanilla extract: A little magic that rounds out flavors with warmth and depth.
Flour: The base that builds structure and stability for slicing.
Chopped nuts: I love walnuts or pecans—add crunch and a hint of earthiness.
Candied cherries: The star of the show! Red, green, or a mix, these add chewiness, color, and festive sweetness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I like to play around with the nut choices depending on what I have on hand, and sometimes I swap half the candied cherries for dried cranberries to amp up the tartness. Feel free to make this recipe your own—baking is all about what makes you happy and what your family loves.

Variation: I once tried replacing some of the flour with almond flour to add a subtle nutty flavor and it worked beautifully, though the dough was a bit more delicate to handle.
Dietary tweak: You can substitute butter with a vegan alternative to make these dairy-free; just make sure it’s firm enough to hold shape.
Cherry swaps: If you want a fresher taste, chopped fresh cherries can work, but reduce the sugar slightly to balance moisture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy

Start by softening your butter to almost room temperature—too cold and it won’t cream well, too warm and it gets greasy. Beat the butter and powdered sugar together with your mixer until light and fluffy. This step traps air that helps make the cookies tender and delicate.

Step 2: Add egg and vanilla, then slowly mix in flour

Once the butter and sugar are perfectly creamed, add your egg and vanilla extract and mix just until combined. Then gradually add the flour, mixing on low speed or by hand with a spatula to avoid overworking the dough. You want just enough to bring it all together without toughening the cookies.

Step 3: Fold in the chopped nuts and quartered candied cherries

Be gentle folding in the cherries and nuts—that’s where the magic happens, and you want them evenly distributed. I find folding by hand helps prevent the cherries from breaking or bleeding color into the dough.

Step 4: Roll the dough into logs and chill

I split the dough into thirds for easier handling. Place each portion on parchment and shape into a firm log about 2 inches in diameter. Roll it up, twist the paper ends to secure, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Chilling helps the dough firm up so you get neat, clean slices.

Step 5: Slice, arrange, and bake

Once chilled, unwrap each log and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds. Place the cookies on parchment-lined sheets with some space because they’ll spread a little. Bake at 350°F for 13-15 minutes or until the edges just turn golden. Watch closely—overbaking can dry them out.

Top Tip

Through baking this Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe multiple times, I've learned a few key tricks that really make a difference. These tips can save you from common pitfalls and help your cookies turn out beautifully every time.

Butter Temperature: Make sure your butter is softened but not melting—too cold, and it won’t cream properly; too warm, and your dough won’t hold shape.
Chilling Time: Don’t skip chilling the dough—it’s crucial for slicing neat, intact cookies and enhancing flavor.
Gentle Folding: Fold in cherries and nuts carefully by hand to keep cherries from bleeding their color into the dough.
Watch the Bake: Bake just until edges turn light golden—overbaked cookies lose their tender texture.

How to Serve Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe

cherry christmas cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to dust these cookies lightly with powdered sugar after baking for that snowy, festive look. Adding a tiny drizzle of white chocolate can also be a nice touch that kids adore.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea. For a holiday party, I like setting them alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit for a balanced spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting, I roll the logs into festive parchment, tie the ends with holiday ribbon, and slip them into gift bags—such a pretty and easy presentation. At parties, I arrange the cookies on tiered trays for an eye-catching centerpiece full of color and charm.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Cherry Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh for up to a week, but if you want to keep the texture perfect, add a slice of bread to the container—it helps maintain moisture balance.

Freezing

This dough freezes beautifully. I usually shape the logs, wrap them tightly in parchment and foil, and freeze before slicing. When ready to bake, I thaw just enough log portions overnight in the fridge and slice into cookies as usual.

Reheating

If you want to refresh day-old cookies, heating them for about 5 minutes at 300°F makes them taste freshly baked and soft again. Just don’t overdo it, or they’ll dry out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use fresh cherries instead of candied cherries?

You can substitute fresh cherries, but keep in mind they add more moisture to the dough, which may affect texture and baking time. If you try fresh cherries, reduce the sugar slightly and pat them dry to remove excess juice.

How long can I store these cookies?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for about a week. Adding a slice of bread to the container can help keep them soft longer.

Can I freeze the dough?

Yes! The dough freezes very well when shaped into logs and wrapped tightly. Freeze before slicing, then thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.

What type of nuts work best?

Walnuts and pecans are my favorites for their rich flavor and texture, but feel free to experiment with almonds or hazelnuts depending on your preference or what you have on hand.

Final Thoughts

This Cherry Christmas Cookies Recipe feels like a warm holiday hug in cookie form. I always find joy in pulling that log out of the fridge and knowing that in just a short while, I’ll get to share something truly festive and tasty. I hope you’ll enjoy baking and sharing these as much as I do—it’s one of those recipes that turns simple ingredients into sweet memories.