Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies, infused with touches of cherry and almond, and topped with a thick cherry-almond icing! These Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are guaranteed to be a smash hit for the holidays. Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are simple to make, foolproof, and a batch goes a long way!
Amish Sugar Cookies are just the best. They’re soft, puffy, buttery, rich, and sorta flaky. They remind me a lot of cut-out cookies, but without any rolling. You get all the benefits of cut-outs, but at a fraction of the work. Cut-outs are one of my favorite cookies, but I hate to make them because they’re so much work. Amish Sugar Cookies are the lazy persons’ cut-outs. 🙂
When I made Amish Sugar Cookies for the first time last year, I knew right away that they’d also be amazing as a canvas for other flavors. Such a great, simple, sugar cookie – perfect the way it is, they don’t even need icing – but also very easy to adapt. Amish Sugar Cookies are soft and puffy, but still dense and substantial. They simply melt-in-your-mouth, and that’s a fact!
These Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are in the running for one of my favorite variations, and I’ve now made a lot. (See below!). Once I tried an almond version of Amish Sugar Cookies, I knew that the next step had to be cherry with almond. There are few combinations I love more, and the flavor pairing does not disappoint in these Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies.
Both extracts are added right to the cookie batter, and into the icing too. They’re madeover with cherry and almond in each step. The icing is truly to-die-for, and you’ll want to slather it on quite thick, trust me. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Slivered almonds on top are a pretty garnish, and overall, these Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are not bad to look at! They’ll really stand out if you’re planning to make them for the holidays.
These Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are pretty simple to throw together, and Amish Sugar Cookies in general are foolproof. I’ve made countless batches, and they turn out perfectly every time. They’re easy and reliable.
Also, a single batch makes quite a lot of cookies. You can easily feed a crowd. If you’re making an assortment of cookies for the holidays, a batch of these Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies will go a long way.
If you’re a fan of cherry almond things, check out a these glorious Cherry Almond Scones, this addictive White Chocolate Cherry Almond Shortbread, this stunning Cherry Amaretto Bundt Cake, and these easy bread recipes: Cherry Almond Bread and Cherry Pistachio Bread.
As I said, Amish Sugar Cookies are nothing if not versatile, and so here’s allllll the different ones I’ve got so far:
- Iced Vanilla Amish Sugar Cookies
- Pecan Praline Amish Sugar Cookies
- Iced Maple Amish Sugar Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Amish Sugar Cookies
- Iced Chai-Spiced Amish Sugar Cookies
- Thin Crispy Amish Sugar Cookies
- Iced Almond Sugar Cookies
- Iced Lemon Amish Sugar Cookies
- Iced Orange Amish Sugar Cookies
- Toasted Coconut Amish Sugar Cookies
- Coconut Oil Amish Sugar Cookies
I’m excited to share a few varieties closer to Christmas too!
Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies
Soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies, with touches of vanilla, cherry, and almond, and a thick cherry-almond icing! These Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are guaranteed to be a smash hit for the holidays. Cherry Almond Amish Sugar Cookies are simple to make, foolproof, and a batch goes a long way!
Ingredients
For cookies:
- 2 - 12 oz. jars maraschino cherries drained (reserve juice), minced, squeezed VERY dry
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp. almond extract
- 2 tsp. cherry extract
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
For icing:
- 4 tbsp. butter melted
- 1/3 cup + 1-2 tbsp. maraschino cherry juice
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. cherry extract
- 4 - 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds for garnish
Instructions
For cookies:
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As noted above, drain the maraschino cherries, reserving the juice (!), finely mince the cherries, and then pat/squeeze VERY dry. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, oil, and sugars until combined.
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Beat in eggs, almond extract, cherry extract, and minced cherries.
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In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
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Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined after each addition. Do not overmix.
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Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
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Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets.
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Bake at 375 for 8-11 minutes, or until edges and bottoms are lightly browned.
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Remove to wire racks to cool.
For icing:
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Whisk together butter, maraschino cherry juice, and extracts.
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Stir in 4 cups powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
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Add additional maraschino cherry juice or powdered sugar, as needed, to achieve a thick, but spreadable consistency. It should be thicker than a glaze, and it shouldn't run off the cookie, but should be easily spreadable.
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Frost cookies, sprinkle with slivered almonds, decorate with additional sprinkles, if desired, and allow to set.
Recipe Notes
These are good for at least a week, but best within the first 3 days. After 3 days, they get crumbly and a bit on the drier side - still a delicious cookie though.
These freeze really well! Iced or plain, they freeze beautifully.
I've made these Amish Sugar Cookies into Iced Vanilla Amish Sugar Cookies, Eggnog Amish Sugar Cookies, Peppermint Amish Sugar Cookies, Pecan Praline Amish Sugar Cookies, Iced Maple Amish Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Spice Latte Amish Sugar Cookies, Iced Chai-Spiced Amish Sugar Cookies, Iced Almond Cookies, Iced Lemon Amish Sugar Cookies, Iced Orange Amish Sugar Cookies, Toasted Coconut Amish Sugar Cookies, Coconut Oil Amish Sugar Cookies, and Thin Crispy Amish Sugar Cookies!
There’s something so special about amish recipes. They’re great!!
Thank you so much!!