BonBon Cookies are a delightful holiday favorite, combining almond-flavored dough with the sweet surprise of a maraschino cherry at the center. Their smooth, glossy glaze and optional sprinkles make them a colorful addition to any cookie platter or a perfect homemade gift.
The buttery dough, lightly sweetened with confectioner’s sugar and flavored with almond extract, wraps around each cherry for a hidden treat inside. After baking, the cookies are firm yet tender and beautifully finished with a sweet almond glaze. Food coloring can be added to the glaze for a festive touch, and sprinkles make them even more cheerful.
Simple yet elegant, these cookies are fun to make and sure to bring smiles to any holiday gathering. Perfect for cookie swaps or family celebrations!
Ingredients
- For the cookies:
1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
2 tablespoons half & half or milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
24 maraschino cherries, well drained (approximately)
- For the glaze:
2-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup light corn syrup, divided
1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoons almond extract
3 drops food colour of your choice (depending on colour, you might need more)
optional colored sprinkles
Directions
- For the cookies
- Preheat oven 350 degrees. Knead together flour, sugar, butter, half-half and almond extract until well mixed. Shape about 2 tablespoons dough around a well drained maraschino cherry and roll into a ball. Place onto ungreased sheets and press down on each ball gently to flatten out bottoms. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cookies are firm but not brown. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
- For the glaze
- In small bowl, mix all glaze ingredients together until smooth. Dip cookies in glaze to coat and set on racks (over paper sheets to catch drips) . If using, dust with sprinkles. Let set until dry, about 30 minutes.
Notes
- Originally posted by “Kathy” to the now-defunct Holiday Cookie Club at Epicurious.com.
- Photo by april under Creative Commons license.