Description
Indulgent chocolate chip maraschino cherry shortbread bars blend sweet cherries with buttery shortbread in a delightful dessert. Cherry-studded cookies offer a perfect balance of rich chocolate and tangy fruit for delectable enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ¼ cups (780 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks or 340 g) margarine, at room temperature
- 11.5 oz (326 g) dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (180 ml) chopped maraschino cherries, juices drained
- ½ cup SPLENDA® Naturals Sugar & Stevia Sweetener Blend
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 3 tbsps cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack in center and preheat to 325°F, creating optimal baking conditions for shortbread bars.
- Pan Setup: Line 9 x 13-inch dish with parchment paper to facilitate effortless removal and clean serving.
- Base Mixture: Utilize electric mixer to cream margarine and sweetener until light and voluminous, generating a fluffy foundation for the shortbread.
- Flavor Enhancement: Integrate vanilla and almond extracts, thoroughly blending to infuse aromatic complexity throughout the mixture.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift flour, cornstarch, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring uniform dry ingredient distribution.
- Dough Development: Merge dry ingredients into margarine mixture at low speed, maintaining a delicate texture and preventing potential toughness.
- Chocolate and Cherry Incorporation: Gently fold dark chocolate chips and chopped maraschino cherries into dough, achieving balanced ingredient dispersion.
- Baking Process: Spread dough evenly in prepared dish, creating a smooth surface, then bake for 30 minutes until edges turn golden brown.
- Cooling and Setting: Allow shortbread to cool completely in baking dish, then refrigerate for one hour to enhance structural integrity.
- Serving Preparation: Extract shortbread using parchment paper and slice into precise, uniform squares ready for delightful consumption.
Notes
- Optimize Oven Placement: Center rack ensures even heat distribution for consistent baking results.
- Prep Baking Dish Smart: Parchment paper lining allows effortless shortbread removal and minimal cleanup.
- Mix Technique Matters: Whip margarine and sweetener slowly to achieve a light, airy base that guarantees tender texture.
- Chocolate and Cherry Precision: Drain cherries thoroughly and fold chocolate chips gently to prevent moisture and maintain structural integrity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 276
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 46 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg