Go Back
–+ servings
cherry winks on a table
Print

Cherry Winks

These vintage cherry winks are buttery little cookies that are both chewy and crunchy. It's loaded with fruit and nuts, then rolled in crunchy cornflakes!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cherry cookies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 30 cookies
Calories
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 2 1/3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup, plus 15 more halved for the cookie tops finely chopped maraschino cherries, patted dry
  • 14 finely chopped dates,
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
  • 2 1/2 cups finely crushed cornflakes

Instructions

  • Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
  • Whisk together flour (2 1/3 cups), baking powder (2 teaspoons), and salt (1/2 teaspoon) in a medium mixing bowl.
    Step 1 how to make cherry winks, Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add the butter (10 tablespoons) and sugar (1 1/4 cups) to the bowl of a stand-up mixer. Cream together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl halfway through.
    Step 2 how to make cherry wink cookies, Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand-up mixer. Cream together until light and fluffy. Add milk and mix.
  • Add milk (2 tablespoons) and mix until the mixture is well blended.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until the yolk disappears into dough.
    Step 3 how to make old fashioned cherry wink cookies, Add eggs.
  • Mix in vanilla (1 teaspoon).
    Step 4 how to make cherry winks cookies made with corn flakes, Mix in vanilla.
  • Gradually add flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, mixing until the flour is well incorporate but don't over beat. Remove bowl from mixer.
    Step 5 how to make cherry winks, Gradually add flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time.
  • Add chopped cherries (1/2 cup), dates (14), and pecans (3/4 cup), and fold in with a large rubber spatula.
    Step 6 how to make cherry wink cookies, Add chopped cherries, dates, and pecans
  • Use a medium cookie scoop (#40 portioner holds 1.5 T of dough) to portion the dough, then roll in the cornflakes (2 1/2 cups). After the balls of dough are coated with cornflakes, roll them between your hands to firm up the ball.
  • Gently press a cherry half on top of each cookie. Use your hands to tighten up the shape.
  • Arrange on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Press half a cherry into the top of each cookie and press gently (the whole cookie will flatten slightly)
    Step 8 how to make cherry winks cookies made with corn flakes, Scoop and portion the dough, then roll in the cornflakes. Arrange on a baking sheet. Press half a cherry into the top of each cookie.
  • Bake cookies in the preheated oven until they are set, about 10-12 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

Notes

  1. Dough: The dough will be fairly sticky. This will help the crushed cornflakes to stick better.
  2. Mixer Notes: If you don’t have a stand-up mixer, you can use a handheld electric mixer instead. If you use a handheld mixer, add an extra minute to the time you cream the butter and sugar together.
  3. Baking: Don’t over-bake the cookies as the cornflakes will burn and ruin the taste and the buttery cookie will be dry. Bake just until set. My oven runs hot so I generally bake them for 10 minutes.
  4. Scoop Size: I use a medium OXO cookie scoop (#40 portioner holds 1.5 T of dough)
  5. No Cornflakes: My family is divided on the cornflake coating. Half of them love it and half request I make a batch with no cornflakes. I think both ways are delicious.