Heartfelt Cherry Almond Delight Cookies
Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day with these Heartfelt Cherry Almond Delight Cookies! These delightful treats are crafted with wholesome ingredients, featuring half the butter of traditional sugar cookies and substituting granulated sugar with coconut palm sugar for a healthier option that maintains sweetness without sharp spikes in blood sugar. The delicate pink glaze is made from defrosted dark sweet cherry juice, giving your cookies a lovely hue and fruity flavor. Each cookie is beautifully finished with a light dusting of confectioners' sugar and colorful sprinkles, making them perfect for sharing with loved ones. Indulge in these guilt-free delights and spread the love!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
butter
5 tablespoons (softened)
coconut palm sugar
3/4 cup
egg
1 large
almond extract
1 teaspoon
whole wheat pastry flour
1 2/3 cups
baking powder
1 teaspoon
salt
1/4 teaspoon
confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup (sifted for work surface)
confectioners' sugar
1 cup
almond extract
1/2 teaspoon
milk
1 tablespoon
juice from defrosted dark sweet cherry
1 teaspoon
pink sugar
(for decorating, if desired)
Instructions
1
In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together softened butter and coconut palm sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
2
Incorporate the egg and almond extract into the creamed mixture, blending well until fully combined.
3
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, and salt.
4
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a crumbly dough forms. Don’t worry if it seems a bit crumbled; it will come together nicely.
5
Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least two hours to firm up.
6
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
7
Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with sifted confectioners' sugar, then take half of the chilled dough and roll it out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
8
Use heart-shaped cookie cutters dusted with confectioners' sugar to cut out your cookies. Gather any scraps, re-roll, and cut until all dough is used. While the first batch bakes, roll out the second half of the chilled dough.
9
Space the cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-9 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly browned. After baking, allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for one minute before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10
For the glaze, in a small bowl, combine the remaining confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and milk until smooth. Set aside 2 tablespoons of this mixture in a small resealable bag for drizzling later.
11
To the rest of the glaze, mix in cherry juice gradually, adding more if you want a darker pink shade. Stir until well combined.
12
Once the cookies are completely cooled, generously frost each cookie with the pink glaze and decorate with sprinkles, adding a light dusting of confectioners' sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
13
Enjoy your Heartfelt Cherry Almond Delight Cookies and share them with the ones you love!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Heartfelt Cherry Almond Delight Cookies?
These are wholesome Valentine's Day treats made with almond extract, coconut palm sugar, and a natural pink glaze derived from cherry juice.
What makes these cookies a healthier option compared to traditional sugar cookies?
They use half the amount of butter found in traditional recipes and substitute granulated sugar with coconut palm sugar to help maintain steady blood sugar levels.
How much butter is used in the recipe?
The recipe requires 5 tablespoons of softened butter.
What type of sugar is used in the cookie dough?
The cookie dough uses 3/4 cup of coconut palm sugar.
How is the pink color for the glaze created?
The pink hue is naturally created using 1 teaspoon of juice from defrosted dark sweet cherries.
What kind of flour is recommended for these cookies?
The recipe calls for 1 2/3 cups of whole wheat pastry flour.
How long should the dough be refrigerated before baking?
The dough should be wrapped in plastic and chilled for at least two hours to firm up.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
The oven should be preheated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
How long do the cookies need to bake?
Bake the cookies for 8 to 9 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly browned.
What is the recommended thickness for rolling out the dough?
The dough should be rolled out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
What should be used to dust the work surface and rolling pin?
Use sifted confectioners' sugar instead of flour to dust the surface and rolling pin.
How many eggs does this recipe require?
This recipe requires one large egg.
What gives the cookies their almond flavor?
The flavor comes from almond extract, which is used in both the cookie dough and the glaze.
Does the recipe include salt?
Yes, the recipe includes 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Is there a leavening agent used in the cookies?
Yes, the recipe uses 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
What should I do if the dough seems crumbly after mixing?
A crumbly texture is normal; the dough will come together properly after being shaped into a disk and refrigerated.
How far apart should the cookies be placed on the baking sheet?
The cookies should be spaced about 1 inch apart on the prepared sheets.
How long should the cookies cool before moving them to a wire rack?
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for one minute before transferring them.
What are the ingredients for the glaze?
The glaze is made from 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract, 1 tablespoon of milk, and cherry juice.
Why is some white glaze set aside before adding cherry juice?
Two tablespoons of the white mixture are set aside in a resealable bag to be used for drizzling later.
Can I adjust the intensity of the pink glaze?
Yes, you can mix the cherry juice in gradually to achieve your preferred shade of pink.
Should the cookies be warm when frosting?
No, the cookies must be completely cooled before applying the pink glaze.
How do I prepare the cookie sheets?
Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
What shape should the cookies be?
The recipe suggests using heart-shaped cookie cutters to fit the Valentine's Day theme.
Can I reuse the dough scraps?
Yes, gather any scraps, re-roll them, and continue cutting until all the dough is used.
What extra decorations are suggested?
You can decorate the glazed cookies with sprinkles and a light dusting of confectioners' sugar.
What is 'pink sugar' used for in this recipe?
Pink sugar or sprinkles can be used for decorating the cookies after they are glazed.
How do I cream the butter and sugar?
Use an electric mixer to blend the softened butter and coconut palm sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Is the cherry juice from fresh or frozen cherries?
The recipe specifies using juice from defrosted dark sweet cherries.
How should the dry ingredients be combined?
Whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate medium bowl before adding them to the wet ingredients.