Cherry Winks Cookies A Classic Cookie
Cherry Winks Cookies A Classic
Cherry Winks Cookies A Classic is a recipe that won the Pillsbury Bake Off® Contest in 1950. This recipe was submitted by Ruth from Rice Lake WI. I have wanted to make this recipe for as long as I can remember. This recipe can be seen on many Christmas cookie trays during the holidays. It’s not a cookie I grew up with nor have I ever made this cookie for my own kids, so I think it’s high time I made these cookies!
An Array of Ingredients
This cookie recipe is filled with an assortment of ingredients. The ingredients are blended together and are transformed into these sweet, crunchy cookies. Made with chopped hazelnuts or pecans, chopped dates, (we used Medjool) and chopped candied cherries. The cookie batter is formed into balls and, this is my favorite part, rolled into coarsely crushed cornflakes. The cornflakes give the cookies a nice crispy crunch that I love.
Cookies, Cookies
I decided to make these cookies using Paradise red and green candied cherries instead of the maraschino cherries called for in the original recipe. Using red and green candied cherries brought a festive touch to this recipe and therefore will be the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray this holiday season. You can also make this recipe and use all red candied cherries for Valentine’s Day and all green for St. Patrick’s Day. Fun! Fun!
Seventy Years Later
One bite of these cookies and you’ll be hooked. Crispy on the outside, thanks to the cornflakes and tender on the inside. Each bite contains a small piece from the candied cherry. Seventy years later, Cherry Wink Cookies are still popular. I bet Ruth D. never thought that her recipe would have become so popular, for so long. I’d also bet that Ruth would be proud of herself for making a cookie that has definitely stood the test of time.
Cherry Winks Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped hazelnuts
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1/3 cup chopped red and green candied cherries
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely crushed corn flakes cereal
- 16 red candied cherries, sliced in half
- 16 green candied cherries, sliced in half
Instructions
- In large bowl, beat sugar and shortening with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until well blended. Beat in milk, vanilla and eggs. On low speed, beat in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, scraping bowl occasionally, until dough forms. Stir in hazelnuts, dates and 1/3 cup chopped red and green candied cherries. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes for easier handling.
- Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray or use a silicone mat. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into cereal; coat thoroughly. Shape into balls. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Lightly press a cherry halve, cut side down, into top of each ball. alternating colors.
- Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
Notes
Cherry Stollen is another great recipe using candied cherries.