The delicate beauty and sweet, subtle flavor of cherry blossoms are perfectly captured in these delightful Cherry Blossom Cookies. This recipe provides a straightforward guide to creating these visually stunning and delicious treats, making them ideal for special occasions or simply a charming afternoon delight that’s surprisingly easy to achieve.
Key Ingredients for Cherry Blossom Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, for enhanced floral notes)
- Pink food coloring (gel or liquid)
- Edible dried cherry blossoms (for decoration, optional)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
How to Make Cherry Blossom Cookies:
Discover the joy of creating these beautiful Cherry Blossom Cookies, a recipe designed for pure delight. In under an hour, you’ll transform simple ingredients into tender, delicately flavored cookies adorned with an elegant floral touch. This recipe is perfect for beginners and experienced bakers alike, offering satisfaction through its ease, charming aesthetic, and wonderful taste. The preparation time for these cookies is approximately 30 minutes of active time, with an additional 20-30 minutes for baking and cooling.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract until well combined. If you’re using almond extract for an extra floral kick, add it now as well.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually Add Dry to Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the cookie dough into two equal portions. Leave one portion plain. To the other portion, add a few drops of pink food coloring and gently knead or mix until the color is evenly distributed, creating a beautiful pastel pink hue.
- Create the Swirl: Take small portions of both the plain and pink dough. Gently press them together and then swirl them slightly with your fingers to create a marbled effect. You can also roll out each color thinly and stack them, then roll them up like a jelly roll to achieve a swirl pattern when sliced.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the swirled dough into a log about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which makes slicing easier.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Slice and Decorate: Remove the chilled dough log from the refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into ¼-inch thick rounds. If using edible dried cherry blossoms, gently press one or two onto the top of each cookie before baking.
- Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are set.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Finishing Touches: Once cooled, you can lightly dust the Cherry Blossom Cookies with powdered sugar for an extra decorative flourish.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Blossom Cookies:
You’ll adore these Cherry Blossom Cookies for their sheer elegance and delightful, delicate flavor. They offer that perfect balance of a satisfyingly tender cookie with a hint of sweetness that’s not overpowering, making them a sophisticated alternative to richer, more decadent treats like chocolate chip cookies. The ability to customize their appearance with beautiful pink hues and optional edible blossoms makes each batch a unique work of art.
Beyond their visual charm, making these cookies at home is incredibly cost-effective, allowing you to create a high-impact dessert for a fraction of the price of store-bought equivalents. They’re a testament to simple baking done right, proving that gorgeous results don’t require complex techniques or expensive ingredients. So, gather your ingredients and embark on creating these beautiful Cherry Blossom Cookies – you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to bring a touch of springtime elegance to your kitchen.
Storing and Reheating Tips:
These Cherry Blossom Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Ensure they are completely cooled before storing to prevent condensation, which can make them soggy. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked and cooled cookies for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. To reheat, simply place frozen cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5-7 minutes, or until slightly warmed and crisp.
Final Thoughts:
These Cherry Blossom Cookies are a beautiful and delicious way to bring a touch of delicate charm to any occasion. With their simple elegance and satisfying taste, they are a must-try for any home baker looking for a special treat. Embrace the joy of baking and create these delightful cookies for yourself and your loved ones!
Cherry Blossom Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.1 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- Beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract until well combined. If you’re using almond extract for an extra floral kick, add it now as well.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Divide the cookie dough into two equal portions. Leave one portion plain. To the other portion, add a few drops of pink food coloring and gently knead or mix until the color is evenly distributed, creating a beautiful pastel pink hue.pink food coloring
- Take small portions of both the plain and pink dough. Gently press them together and then swirl them slightly with your fingers to create a marbled effect. You can also roll out each color thinly and stack them, then roll them up like a jelly roll to achieve a swirl pattern when sliced.
- Roll the swirled dough into a log about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up, which makes slicing easier.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the chilled dough log from the refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into ¼-inch thick rounds. If using edible dried cherry blossoms, gently press one or two onto the top of each cookie before baking.edible dried cherry blossoms
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are set.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, you can lightly dust the Cherry Blossom Cookies with powdered sugar for an extra decorative flourish.powdered sugar