Cocoa-Sour Cherry Slices

Cocoa-Sour Cherry Slices

I’ve been busy for the past few days  baking cookies to give neighbors and friends as our family gift for the holidays.  I haven’t forgotten you and just wanted to write a short note and wish you very happy holidays.  May the new year bring joy, happiness, delicious days to you and your loved ones, and peace to the world!

Here’s the recipe for the cookies that were part of the cookie assortment I baked. Cocoa-sour cherry slices. They are light and very delicious. My only change to the original recipe was the addition of dried sour cherries and they paired perfectly with the cocoa. You can use dried cranberries instead, or omit dried fruits altogether.

Happy Holidays and see you  in 2010!

Cocoa-Sour Cherry Slices
Adapted from Cooking Light, December 2007

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients

1   1/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1   1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chopped dried sour (tart) cherries (can substitute dried cranberries)
1/3 cup ice water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and measuring spoons; level with a knife.  Combine the flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the dried cherries.

Combine 1/3 cup ice water and vanilla; drizzle over flour mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until moist.  Place the dough on a large piece of plastic wrap. The dough will be sticky and it is normal. Rolling back and forth, shape the dough into a 12-inch (30 cm) log. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour or until the dough is firm.

Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC).

Unwrap the dough log. Cut the log into 24 (1/2 inch – 1.2 cm thick) slices. If the slices lose their roundness when you cut them, fix the shape with your hands.  Place slices 2 inches (5 cm) apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are set. They will still be somewhat soft when touched on top, but do not panic  – they will harden while cooling. Take care not to overbake. 15 minutes works great for me. Remove from the oven. Cool the cocoa-sour cherry slices completely on wire racks.

24 Comments

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  1. Wonderful cookies!

    Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  2. The cookies are gorgeous Farida. I love your addition of sour cherries…makes them perfect! I’d love to try these soon!
    happy Holidays to you my friend.
    Much love…xoxo

  3. magnifiques petits g^teaux. je note la recette.
    Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year!

    Cheers,

  4. Happy Holidays to you and the family hon.

  5. Happy Holidays!!!!

  6. These cooking looks so yummy! I also love the addition of dried cherries…

    Happy Holidays to you & your lovely family! May all of your wishes & dreams come true! All the best! xoxo

    Btw, just wanted to let you know I made your Eggplant rolls & the Eclairs for xmas last night, and everyone loved it! So thank you! =)

  7. yummy cookies!!wish I could grab one piece 🙂
    Happy Holidays to u & ur family!!

  8. Yummy cookies with chocolate and sour cherry. Great for holidays!
    Wish you a wonderful year Feride.

  9. Great cookies! I don’t think the combo of chocolate and cherry can be beat.
    Wishing you a great holiday season.

  10. Happy Happy holidays to you and your family Farida! Those cookies look gorgeous!

  11. they look absolutely delicious Farida, Happy Holidays to you too

  12. Happy holidays Farida! Your cookies look lovely.

  13. Hello Farida
    nice cookies with the flavour of cherries I love it !
    happy season holidays !
    cheers from Paris
    Pierre

  14. I’m late but still, happy holidays to you and your family abla!

  15. Lovely recipe! I think I might try the cranberry version, haven’t seen dried cherries around here.

    Happy New Year!

    Greetings,
    Tiina

  16. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND HOLIDAYS WISHES! See you in 2010!

  17. What tasty & fab looking cookies!!

    MMMMMMMMMM,… I wish you & your family a warm, happy & fun 2010!!!

  18. Hello my dear friend! Are you all right? I hope so!

    I wish for you and all your family a Happy 2010!

    All the best in your life!

    Kisses and a big hug.

  19. Hello.I found your blog while searching for Eastern Food.I really liked your blog,bookmarked it and will recomment it to my friends too,where is your country situated,i hear Azerbaijan for the fist time,

    Happy New Year

  20. Happy New Year Farida!

  21. Farida
    I brought back some goodies from Lebanon that i am giving away; in case you are interested!

  22. Perfect!! I love sour cherries and chocolate combo..yumm!
    Wish you a wonderful year ahead!

  23. Fari, your cookies look and sound so good in their festive cookie tin.
    I’ve been hanging on to some dried cherries I got at TJs late last year, and now I’ve found a great use for them.

    Best Wishes for the New Year to you and your pint-size crew, my friend!

  24. Hi Farida. Your cookies look great. I am trying to bake this cookies at this moment. when I was making my dough 1/3 cup ice water was to much. after adding half of it dough become very sticky and it was very difficult to give any shape, so I added more flour to it. First time trying this recipe. I hope it will be good. 🙂

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