Chocolate Cherry Cookie Bites
Crisp vanilla wafer sandwiches filled with creamy cherry and almond filling, dipped in smooth chocolate and finished with colourful decorations. This small-batch recipe makes four individual sandwich cookies.
Equipment
- airtight container
- baking paper
- electric mixer
- Fork
- medium mixing bowl
- microwave-safe bowl
- spoon
Ingredients
For the Cherry Filling
- 15 g cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon maraschino cherries drained and finely chopped
- 2 drops almond extract
For the Cookies
- 8 vanilla wafers
- For the Chocolate Coating
- 45 g chocolate-flavoured candy coating chopped
- ¼ teaspoon vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon sprinkles or edible decorations
Instructions
For the Cherry Filling
- Place the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar in a medium mixing bowl.
- Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth.
- Stir in the chopped maraschino cherries and almond extract.
For the Cookie Sandwiches
- Spread the cherry filling over the flat sides of 4 vanilla wafers.
- Place the remaining wafers on top with their flat sides facing the filling.
- Gently press the wafers together to form 4 sandwich cookies.
- Refrigerate the assembled cookies for 30 minutes, or until the filling is firm.
For the Chocolate Coating
- Place the chocolate coating and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 30 seconds.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Continue heating in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth.
- Dip each chilled sandwich cookie into the melted chocolate using a fork.
- Turn the cookie until it is completely coated.
- Lift it from the chocolate and allow the excess coating to drip back into the bowl.
- Place the coated cookie on baking paper.
- Immediately add the sprinkles or edible decorations.
- Repeat with the remaining cookies.
- Leave the cookies at room temperature until the coating has set.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes & Wine Advice
Serving Suggestions
Serve the cookies chilled with coffee, tea or hot chocolate. They also work well on a dessert platter or packaged individually as a homemade gift.Recipe Notes
Drain the maraschino cherries thoroughly and pat them dry before chopping. Excess liquid can make the cream cheese filling too soft. Check the vanilla wafers, candy coating and decorations when preparing the cookies for someone with a food allergy.Variations
Replace the maraschino cherries with finely chopped dried cherries. Dark, milk or white chocolate coating can be used. Add finely chopped pistachios, coconut or freeze-dried raspberry crumbs instead of sprinkles.Storage
Layer the cookies between sheets of baking paper in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to two days. Freezing is not recommended because the filling may separate and the wafers can lose their crisp texture.Wine Advice
A lightly sparkling Moscato complements the sweet cherry filling and chocolate coating. A ruby port is a richer alternative for serving these cookies as an after-dinner treat.Nutrition values
Serving: 1 sandwich cookie | Calories: 130 kcal | Carbohydrates: 18 g | Protein: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Sodium: 55 mg | Sugar: 14 g