Spiced Cherry Bells

Name: Spiced Cherry Bells
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: About 4-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar; 1/4 cup dark corn syrup; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream; 3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; FILLING:; 1/3 cup packed brown sugar; 3 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice; 1 tablespoon butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups finely chopped pecans; 14 maraschino cherries, quartered

Coffee and ginger flavor this old-fashioned recipe Peggy Graving of Butte, Montana received from her mother-in-law years ago. "I always bake up a batch for the dessert buffet I host on Christmas Eve," Peggy writes. "Everyone comments on the taste, and the bell shape of the cookies adds to the festive occasion."

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 egg
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
FILLING:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1-1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
14 maraschino cherries, quartered

Directions

In a bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in corn syrup, egg and cream. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate dough for 2-4 hours or overnight.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
In a bowl, combine the first three filling ingredients; mix well. Stir in pecans. Place 1/2 teaspoon of filling in the center of each cookie. Shape into a cone by folding edges of dough to meet over filling; pinch edges together. Place a piece of cherry at open end of each bell for clapper.
Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

2 each: 232 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 153mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Originally published as Spiced Cherry Bells in Crafting Traditions November/December 1998

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sr mary

Nov 6, 2011

These cookies have been in my family for generations too. Delicious! They have always been my favorite Christmas cookies and as a child I would convince my mom to make then year-round for me. The directions should say cut with a round (circle) cookie cutter. You get the bell shape by folding the edges over the filling.

Spiced Cherry Bells

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