Cherry Icebox Cookies

Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup red decorator sugar (optional)

Recipe

• 1 beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy. gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating well. add egg and vanilla, beating well.
• 2 combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating well. pat cherries between paper towels to remove excess moisture. stir cherries and pecans into dough; cover and chill 2 hours.
• 3 shape dough into two 1 1/2"-diameter, 8"-long rolls. roll in colored sugar, if desired. wrap rolls in wax paper and freeze until firm.
• 4 unwrap frozen dough and slice into 1/4"-thick slices, using a sharp knife. place on lightly greased cookie sheets.
• 5 bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. let cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. transfer to wire racks to cool completely.