Cherry Winks Cookie Recipe
Cherry Winks are a classic Christmas cookie filled with plump cherries (hence the name!), dates, and chopped nuts. These cookies are butter free and feature a fun ingredient: Corn Flake Cereal. This cherry winks cookie recipe features a few updated ingredients (morello cherries) differing from the original (from published in the 1950’s).
These crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside cookies have seasonal, holiday ingredients such as chopped dried fruit, nuts and whole morello cherries. Most Classic Christmas desserts incorporate flavors of dried fruits (plums, dates, citrus zest) and seasonal nuts (walnuts, chestnuts, pecans). Cherry wink cookies are fruit filled with added crunch from good ol’ corn flake cereal.
Cereal In Cookies? Yes! Think of all of the other sweets with cereal as a main ingredient:
- Rice Cereal: Where would we be without rice crispy treats? Gooey, marshmallow squares made mostly from rice cereal!
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal is classified as a grain cereal. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are filled with spice notes of cinnamon and oatmeal, and blended with All Purpose Flour need I say more?
Rolling the cookie dough in crushed corn flake cereal adds a delightful crunch to these sweet morsels. The dough in this recipe bakes up light and fluffy, and adding the corn flakes gives these cookies a much needed crinkle texture!
Cherry Winks: The Out of Butter Cookie…
Looking for a soft centered, cake textured cookie without all the butter? Cherry winks are made with vegetable shortening in place of butter. If you are looking for a cookie recipe with no butter, this is it. These cookies are almost deceiving with their soft buttery texture and crumbly sweet dough, it’s hard to tell that there is no butter whatsoever in this recipe!
What is the history of cherry wink cookies?
Cherry wink cookies originated in the mid-20th century and gained popularity as a classic American dessert. They are known for their unique combination of cherry and nut flavors, often made with maraschino cherries and rolled oats, reflecting a trend of incorporating diverse ingredients into home baking during that era.
How should cherry wink cookies be stored to maintain freshness?
Cherry wink cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their freshness. For longer storage, they can be frozen for up to three months. It is advisable to layer the cookies with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
What are some tips for baking cherry wink cookies successfully?
To bake cherry wink cookies successfully, ensure that all ingredients are at room temperature for better incorporation. Use a cookie scoop for uniform size, and do not overbake; cookies should be lightly golden around the edges and soft in the center. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
This dough is freezable! Mix it up, stick it into your freezer and roll through crushed cereal, top with morello cherry and almond paste, then bake as needed!
How to Store Cookies:
Store Cherry winks in an airtight container for 3 days. Store raw cookie dough wrapped tightly in freezer for up to 3 months. See note above.
Cherry Wink Cookie Recipe
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Electric Beater
- 2 18" x 26" Cookie Sheet Pans lined with parchment paper or silicon baking sheets
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Vegetable Shortening
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Tbsp Whole Milk
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Baking Soda
- ½ Tsp Salt
- 2 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
- â…“ Cup Morello Cherries removed from juice, chopped finely
- 1 Cup Pecans Chopped
- 1 Cup Dates pits removed, finely chopped
- 3 Cups Corn Flakes crushed, to medium in plastic bag
- 25 Morello Cherries
- 3 Tbsp Almond paste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350℉
Cherry Wink Cookie Dough
- In a large mixing bowl add shortening and sugar and cream together using electric mixer.
- Add eggs and milk to shortening mixture, continue blending with electric mixer.
- Add baking soda, baking powder and salt to mixing bowl and blend in.
- Pour dates, chopped cherries, and pecans into bowl, mix in with spoon.
Assembling the Cherry Wink Cookies
- Using a teaspoon as a measurement, roll cookies in crushed corn flakes, covering the dough ball entirely.
- Place corn flake covered cookie dough balls on lined baking sheet, 1/2 inch apart, repeat process with the rest of cookie dough. Crush more corn flakes if needed.
- Using a â…› teaspoon as measurement, scoop almond paste from block and place into center of each cookie dough ball, pressing down slightly.
- Top each almond paste piece with a single morello cherry, pressing the cherry firmly down, into the center.
- Bake cookies for 25 minutes.
- Remove cookies from oven and allow them to cool ON THE BAKING SHEET. Once cooled, place cookies in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days at room temperature.
They look so yummy.