Cookie Gifts ~ How to Make Delicious Cherry Wink Cookies with Photos and Instructions
By Peggy W
Cherry Wink Cookie
Favorite cookie recipes
Here we are rapidly approaching the Thanksgiving and Christmas time of year when thoughts of friends and family gatherings as well as food and gift giving comes to mind.
For several weeks now I have been making and freezing homemade cookies and have now finished the project. They are all safely put up into containers in our large chest freezer and will all be thawed at one time when I am ready to assemble the twelve different kinds that I baked this year and apportion them into decorative cookie tins.
After Christmas last year when the cookie tins that had not previously sold were put on sale, that is when I did some shopping and purchased the tins that I will be giving away this year after filling them with the assorted cookies.
The smaller cookie tins fit nicely into the larger ones so that they did not take up too much space in our hall closet where they were stored.
All of them are now washed and dried and in a short time will be leaving our home filled to the brim with sweet delights.
I think that most people truly appreciate homemade gifts and since the majority of people like cookies...they always seem to be gratefully accepted. Since we have been giving them away now for many years...some people actually start questioning my husband as to the progress of the cooking baking!
Cherry Winks
This cherry wink recipe is a little more "putsy" (an old German expression that I grew up hearing) but is so pretty and festive when mixed in with more plain looking cookies that it has been made year after year even though other cookies are sometimes varied.
The topping of that piece of maraschino cherry actually does seem to wink at one! Or is it just my imagination? Wink! Wink!
Maraschino cherries
decorative cookie jars
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Cookie ingredients
Cherry Winks call for the following:
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup shortening ( I use Crisco )
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries (plus a quartered cherry for the top of each cookie)
- 2 1/2 cups cornflakes or more as needed
Instructions:
Begin by sifting the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl.
Combine the shortening and sugar creaming them together. Blend in the eggs and then add the milk and vanilla making sure that all is well mixed after each addition.
At this point grab your bowl of the sifted dry ingredients and gradually add them to the wet mixture blending well.
Finally add the pecans, chopped dates and the chopped maraschino cherries.
If you do not have pecans, walnuts can be substituted. I actually grabbed the walnuts by mistake this year and it worked out fine...according to my hubby who did the honors of tasting them after the cherry winks were baked.
Now to begin the job of assembling these cherry winks...
Shape into balls using a rounded teaspoon of dough for each cookie making them about the size of unshelled walnuts. Naturally you can make them a bit smaller or larger if desired...it is up to you to decide!
This batter is quite soft...could probably be chilled although the recipe does not call for that. I found it is easiest to merely drop the batter by teaspoonful into the slightly crushed cornflakes and then with one hand they can be rolled in the cornflakes into the semblance of a ball shape prior to placing onto a greased cookie sheet.
Next...top each cookie with a quartered maraschino cherry. Press down slightly so that when the cookie is baked, the cherry will remain on top.
Bake in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 to 12 minutes. If using a convection oven several sheets of cookies can be baked at one time and oven time will be reduced by a few minutes.
Take off of baking sheets and store on wire racks until completely cooled. Do not stack or store until cold.
Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
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Aren't these Cherry Wink cookies pretty?
As a part of a cookie assortment, they really add some color and pizazz to the mixture and besides that...they taste good!
Maybe you already make cookie gifts of your own or will consider making homemade cookies and giving them in the future? A number of other tried and true cookie recipes will be left as links at the bottom of this hub in case you wish to check out some other recipes. Enjoy!
Need an assortment of great cookie recipes?
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Other great cookie recipes...
- Old Fashioned Cookies from My Grandma ~ Chocolate Cookies for Chocolate Lovers
Warning! This chocolate cookie just may become addictive! - Applesauce Cookies ~ Old Fashioned Cookie Recipe from My Grandma
- Scrumptious Cookies for the Holidays, Birthdays or Anytime ~ Photos and Instructions
Pecan Fingers & M-M-M Good Cookies. Enjoy! - Oatmeal Bar Cookie with Dates and Nuts ~ Family Memories plus Photos
This bar cookie recipe is an old family one. Enjoy some background photos as well as step by step instructions. - Photos and Instructions of Easy to Make Homemade Cookies using Chocolate
Chocolate Crinkle cookies - Raisin Molasses Sugar Cookies ~ Family Recipe with Photos and Instructions
What do old manual typewriters have to do with this delicious cookie recipe? Read to discover... Hub of the Day Award Winner!!! - Ice Box Cookies ~ Family Recipe with Step by Step Photos
My mother remembered the days of ice boxes & this family cookie recipe goes back to those days or posssibly even further. Another Hub of the Day Award Winner!!! - Sweetheart Heart Shaped Cookies for Valentines Day Gifts or Anytime
The black pepper in these delicious pepper cookies that I like to make seem to accentuate the other flavors such as ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Enjoy the recipe and make into shapes desired for any occasion. - Homemade Cookies ~ Cookie Gifts ~ Easy to Make Cookies with Step by Step Photos
Wheaties plus other simple ingredients. - Healthy Oatmeal Cookies Recipe ~ Quaker Oats Oatmeal Cookies ~ Baking ~ Gifts
Many of the ingredients going into this tasty cookie recipe are nutritious and healthy. Everyone always asks for more! Enjoy it and also different recipes from videos in this hub. - Easy Good Recipe - Christmas Cookies from our neighbor Mrs. Tanner
A little background of my teenaged years in McAllen, Texas and how and why this delicious Christmas cookie recipe was acquired. I continue to make it every year!
Look how pretty these cherry wink cookies look in an assortment readied for gift giving purposes.
Comments
I love these kind of cherry cookies. Thanks for the recipe I look forward to giving a try for myself instead of the store bought ones next time I want to enjoy these delicious cookies.
Hi LadyLyell,
Yes, that handwritten journal of my grandmothers should definitely be handed down and stay in the family.
So your chef friend is now serving food at that Okavango safari site in Africa. How very interesting. Your hub on that subject was wonderful. Heading on over to read another one of your interesting hubs. Love your travel ones!
Thanks for your comments.
I will be reading up on your recipes and thanks for bringing them to my attention. Cooking never came naturally to me and to this day I find myself having to follow a recipe step by step in which case I get there.
As for the handwritten cook book, it is more scribble that I started when my friend who is a chef came to the rescue when I was entertaining on special occassions. As he cooked I scribbled but my success story's end there.
As a matter of interest Francois, was snapped up as a chef for a camp near the Okavango which you read about. What a life he has!
Wasn't it wonderful how people like your grandmother wrote out recipes? This is such a personal item to be handed down.
Enjoy your day!
Just loved your story above.
I will be reading up on your recipes and thanks for bringing them to my attention.
Cooking never came naturally to me and to this day I find myself having to follow a recipe step by step in which case I get there.
As for my hand written cook book, it is more scribble. I have a friend who is a chef and he came to the rescue when I had a special occassion and while he cooked I took notes.
He now is a chef in a camp near the Okavango Delta you commented on. What a life!
Enjoy your day!
Hi LadyLyell,
Let me know what you think when you bake these cherry wink cookies. I have featured many more tried and true cookie recipes in hubs if you want more.
A hand-written cookbook...that sounds like quite a project!
I have an old journal of my grandmothers with handwritten recipes and actually wrote 2 different hubs about it showing the ones that I actually tried. In many cases there were no directions...just the ingredients! It is old, needless to say.
Thanks for your comment.
Hi SanneL,
These cherry wink cookies are certainly that...pretty! Except for a few cookie gifts already made up in tins to be given away I have exactly one cherry wink left after hosting several groups of people in our home who helped themselves to a plate of assorted cookies. Am sure that won't last long! :)) Thanks for your comment and votes.
I have added this recipe to my handwritten cook book. I just know these biscuits will be nice. Only recently I asked my aunt for a recipe as I prefer home baked food. Now I have a few to try.
Thanks!
Oh my, these looks so yummy and pretty. Almost to pretty to eat!
Home-made cookies is a lovely gift idea now for the holidays. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
Bookmarked, voted up and useful!
Hi oceansnsunsets,
You are right. I think that almost everyone appreciates cookie gifts...especially if they are homemade. The cherry winks seem to get even better with time. Hope you enjoy them. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Peggy,What a pretty cookie! I am going to try and make those cherry winks this next weekend, as they seem so festive. You are right in that they seem like they would be a festive addition to any cookie tray. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Cookie gifts can be so nice to give and receive. Its thoughtful and yummy. It will bring a smile any time you share. That is my experience anyway .:)
Hi RTalloni,
I agree that homemade gifts are most often appreciated because of the extra effort that went into the making of them and almost everyone likes eating a good cookie on occasion. Thanks for your comment and vote up. Appreciate it!
Your cherry winks are pretty. I think people really do appreciate homemade baked goods as gifts. Thanks for the recipe links! Voted up and bookmarked.
Hi Mark,
I got the cookies that were made up ahead of time out of the freezer yesterday and after they were thawed divided them up into the many cookie tins. My husband made the first delivery of homemade cookies as an early Christmas gift today. Many more to be delivered and given away. As you say...homemade cookies make great gifts anytime of year. Thanks for your comment and glad that you liked this recipe hub.
Great easy to follow recipe with wonderful photos to compliment it. What great homemade gifts for Christmas, or any other time of the year for that matter. Excellent hub!
Hi mljdgulley,
I have given tins of homemade cookies away for Christmas presents for many years...also big baskets of them in the past. Hope that your gift recipients appreciate all of your efforts! It is a labor of love. Thanks for your comment.
Peggy, thank you for this hub. I am making baked food baskets for Christmas presents this year. Your hub was timely for me
Hi Hanna,
Hope you like this cherry wink recipe. We can all diet in January! Haha! Thanks for your comment.
Thank you for this lovely recipe and so easy to make. I'll be rounder than long after Christmas with all mine and your love recipes. lol
Hello plinka,
Happy to be able to provide you with this cherry wink recipe. It is different from most others and stands out in a crowd just like a red dress at a black tie function. Hope that you and your parents enjoy this cookie recipe. Thanks for your comment.
Another awesome recipe. Ok, I've bookmarked this one as well. At Christmas I'll be at my parents' place and I think some cookies will come in handy. I have not seen such recipe in the Hungarian magazines, so it will be a great hit. :-))) Thanks! Voted up!
Hi North Wind,
If you get a deal on large Santa suits...give me a call. Haha! Hope that you enjoy these delicious cookies. Thanks for your comment.
By the time I am finished eating all these cookies kids are going to start asking me if I am related to Santa.Ha! But I am still going to try them!
Hi Om,
Here is how I handle it. I make the homemade cookies and as soon as they are cool, pack them up and freeze them until ready to thaw...pack into cookie tins and then give away. Less temptation that way! Haha! Thanks for your comment.
Yep, yummy homemade cookies are awesome gifts. Your cherry wink recipe sounds so good, but there's just one problem. I might end up eating most of them myself instead of giving them to people! lol
Hi Eddy,
Your house could smell like a bakery too if you start making all of these delicious cookies. Ha! At least you now know what a cherry wink looks like. Thanks for your comment.
Another recipe for me to bookmark.
I have quite a collection now.
Thank you for sharing and enjoy your day.
Eddy.
Hi Alicia,
It is nice to have completed this cookie baking marathon and it will be equally nice to be able to give these cookie gifts away when the time comes. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Cheryl,
Since you have tasted these cherry wink cookies as well as other that I give away as cookie gifts...this comment of yours has much meaning. Thanks!
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your comment and votes. Hope you enjoy the cherry wink cookies when you make and bake them.
Hello cherylone,
Haha! Here it to great "tasting" hubs! Thanks for your comment.
Hi Simone,
I agree...these cherry wink cookies are certainly distinctive when mixed with other cookies. Thanks for your comment.
What a lovely gift your cookie tins will be, Peggy. Making twelve kinds of cookies over several weeks sounds like a big job, but I'm sure your friends and relatives will appreciate your work! I love the name of these cookies, and like your other cookie recipes, this one sounds delicious.
Your cookies are the best. It is impossible to eat just one cookie. Great photos and information on making this delicious and beautiful cookie. A lovely gift idea. Great hub.
Well, as one cookie cook to another, I have bookmarked this Hub so I can go back and get more recipes. Thanks for sharing. These cherry winks are new to me, I'll try them out! You did a great job with the photos, too. I'll vote you UP, etc.etc. Goodnight.
Another great 'tasting' hub. I love the hubs you do on baking. thanks for sharing.
Wow, I've never seen cookies like these before! What great gifts they'd make! Nothing like the old (delicious, but a but boring) traditional choices I'm used to.
Hello LadyLyell,
After you bake these Cherry Winks, let me know what you think. They are so pretty when I mix them into the cookie tins with the other cookies to be given away as gifts. Thanks for your comment.
How yummy these cookies look and am sure they taste as good.
Will try,
thanks!
Hi livelonger,
The word "putsy" (pronounced like putt-see) was used in our family and I just assumed it was a German expression since that was most of our heritage. Wonder if anyone else has ever used that word meaning the same thing?
Ah, OK - thanks for the explanation. Had never heard the word before!
Hi Prasetio,
Glad that you are enjoying these homemade cookie hubs. They do make for great cookie gifts at this time of year. Thanks for your comment and votes.
Hello leahlefler,
I have no idea how old this recipe is...but am sure that others in your cookie exchange group will undoubtedly be making others. Let me know how it turns out for you and what the reception was. The flavors seem to get even better with time. Thanks for your comment.
Hi livelonger,
The word "putsy" as I came to know it meant that something took a little more trouble or was a little more intricate a project. It may have been some sort of colloquial expression...not a real word? These cookies are definitely more unusual looking...and quite striking as compared to most others. Thanks for your comment.
Peggy, you are a master chief. I always love your recipes related with cookies. I thought we all glad to follow your step by step instruction. Thank you very much for share with us. Rated up and useful! Cheers...
Prasetio
What a festive cookie idea! We have a lot of "cookie parties" coming up (people bake 2 dozen cookies and then trade them for other cookies, so we get to come home with a wide assortment of different cookie types). I'll have to make these to trade!
Why does my stomach always start rumbling when I visit one of your recipe Hubs? These look delicious. I've never seen a cookie with such an unusual texture to it (or that incorporated a maraschino cherry on top). I can very easily imagine how great they taste. And now you've piqued my curiosity: what does "putsy" mean?
Peggy W 3 months ago
Hello czczcz,
Happy to be able to share this cherry wink cookie recipe with you. Hope you enjoy them! Thanks for your comment.