By Amber home Friday. Tyler home Saturday. All kids home for Christmas.
Christmas Eve service Wednesday. Gayle came. Sang hymns. Tired at the end.
Christmas morning: slow and good. Gifts. Big dinner Thursday — 13 at the table. Gayle ate a small plate. She was happy.
With 13 people around the table and the house finally full, I wanted something I could make ahead — something small and sweet that people could grab between the noise and the laughter without it feeling like a production. These Cherry-Almond Balls have been part of our Christmas spread for years, and this year, watching Gayle take one and smile, they felt exactly right. They’re the kind of thing that doesn’t need a fuss, just a full heart and a little time the day before.
Cherry-Almond Balls
Prep Time: 25 min | Cook Time: 0 min | Total Time: 1 hr 25 min (includes chilling) | Servings: 24 balls
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup finely chopped slivered almonds, toasted
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained, patted dry, and finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut (for rolling)
Instructions
- Drain and dry cherries. Spread chopped maraschino cherries on paper towels and press gently to remove as much moisture as possible. This keeps the balls from becoming sticky.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and powdered sugar together until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in almond extract.
- Fold in mix-ins. Stir in the toasted almonds and dried cherries until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Roll into balls. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll between your palms into smooth 1-inch balls. If the dough is too soft to handle, refrigerate for 15 minutes first.
- Coat in coconut. Spread shredded coconut on a shallow plate. Roll each ball in the coconut, pressing gently so it adheres on all sides.
- Chill. Arrange balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 115 | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Carbs: 15g | Fiber: 1g | Sodium: 30mg