Check dried cherries for pits and seal each one completely inside the dough before baking.
Powdered sugar-coated shortbread rounds hide a small dried cherry and toasted almond center, giving each snowball a surprise filling.
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Cherry Almond Snowball Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- mixer
- skillet
- baking sheets
- parchment
- shallow bowl
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Prepare the ingredients: Mix butter, sugar, flour and salt to a dough; fold in chopped almonds.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Divide into 24 portions, flatten each around one dried cherry and seal.
Chill the dough
- Chill the dough: Chill 20 minutes.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 18–21 minutes until set with pale bottoms.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Cool 10 minutes, roll once in coating sugar while warm, then again when fully cool.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Toast and cool almonds before chopping so they stay crisp in the dough.
Technique & texture
Keep the fruit center small enough for an even shortbread shell.
Finishing & serving
Use two light sugar coats to create a snowy finish without clumping.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 4 days | Airtight at room temperature up to 4 days. |
| Refrigeration | As described | No refrigeration needed for the baked cookies. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze shaped unbaked balls up to 1 month. bake from frozen with 2 minutes extra. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked cookies before the final sugar coat up to 1 month. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw uncovered, then refresh the confectioners’ sugar coating. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 24 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can fresh cherries be used?
No; fresh cherries add moisture and can make the centers leak.
Why is the first sugar coat patchy?
The cookies may be too cool; roll once while warm, then apply a second coat after cooling.
Can I use walnuts instead of almonds?
Yes; use the same weight of finely chopped toasted walnuts.
