christmas cherry balls

Name: Christmas Cherry Balls
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 12 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ## COOKIES; 1 1/4 cup(s) oil; 2 - eggs; 1/2 cup(s) milk; 1/2 the juice of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla or almond extract; 5-5 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour; 1 cup(s) sugar; 2 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt; - red food coloring; 1/4 - of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries, chopped; - nuts, chopped; ## ICING; 1 1/2 cup(s) powdered sugar; 1/2 teaspoon(s) almond extract; enough cherry juice and water to thin the glaze to proper consistency

(2 RATINGS)

661 Pinches 10 Photos

Val Paris

Rome, NY

Updated on Oct 28, 2025

Another traditional Christmas cookie recipe. They're good for any time of year, but they are a must on our cookie platter. This is a combination of many recipes, suited to my oldest daughter's taste. She's the fussy one in the family!

Rate

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This cookie is a great treat anytime but will be a beautiful addition to your Christmas cookies. They bake up soft and tender, with chunks of cherries and nuts. The cookie itself is not overly sweet. Once the glaze is added, there is just the right amount of sweetness. In the Test Kitchen, we added almond flavoring and loved that flavor combined the cherry. Very festive!

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 25 Min

cook time 12 Min

method Bake

yield 12 cookie(s)

Ingredients

COOKIES
1 1/4 cups oil
2 - eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 the juice of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
5-5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
- red food coloring
1/4 - of a 10 oz bottle of maraschino cherries, chopped
- nuts, chopped
ICING
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
enough cherry juice and water to thin the glaze to proper consistency

How To Make christmas cherry balls

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the cookies, mix together the oil, eggs, milk, cherry juice, and vanilla in a large bowl.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3

Add the red food coloring to the color desired to the wet mixture. Then gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet.
Step 4

Stir in the cherries and nuts. The dough will be very thick.
Step 5

Form into balls.
Step 6

Bake 10-12 minutes.
Step 7

To make the icing, combine the powdered sugar, almond extract, and a bit of cherry juice and water. Mix. Add more cherry juice and water according to your taste and desired consistency. Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the icing. You can also frost with your favorite frosting or glaze. Add sprinkles if desired.
Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)

calories: 977kcal, carbohydrates: 117g, cholesterol: 29mg, fat: 52g, fiber: 4g, protein: 13g, saturated fat: 7g, sodium: 355mg, sugar: 56g, unsaturated fat: 45g

*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

Discover More

Comment & Reviews

Just A Pinch Sweepstakes