Cherry Ripe Crackles Recipes

CHERRY-CHOCOLATE CRACKLES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and the brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, then beat in the jam, both extracts and the food coloring. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until combined. Fold in the chocolate and dried cherries with a wooden spoon. Cover the dough and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl and sift the confectioners? sugar into a separate bowl. Roll heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into balls, then roll each ball in the granulated sugar and then the confectioners' sugar; shake off any excess. Arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared pans.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are cracked and dry on top, about 15 minutes. Let cool 3 minutes on the pans, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

MIDNIGHT CRACKLES

Steps:

• Put the butter, sugar and chocolate in that order into a 2 quart saucepan. Put the pan over low heat and warm the ingredients, stirring occasionally, until they are melted and smooth. Scrape everything into the bowl of a mixer or into a large bowl.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
• Working with a mixer with a paddle attachment, if you have one, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, beating until the eggs are well blended into the chocolate. With the mixer still on low, add the dry ingredients, mixing just until the dough is smooth and shiny; it will clean the sides of the bowl and form a ball. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, divide it in half, wrap each piece in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour or for up to 3 days. (If the dough is solid, leave it on the counter for 30 minutes before proceeding.).
• Position the racks to divide the oven into thirds and preheat the oven to 350°F Line two baking sheets with parchment or a silicone mat.
• Working with 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, roll the dough between your palms to form firm, shiny balls. (If the dough breaks as you work, squeeze and knead it a bit, then reroll it between your palms.) Place the balls about 1 inch apart on the baking sheets and lightly press each one down a bit with your fingertips.
• Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point. The cookies should be delicately firm and crackled across the top. (It's better to under- than over bake.) Remove the sheets from the oven, let the cookies rest on the sheets for 2 minutes, then, using a wide metal spatula, gently transfer the cookies to a rack; cool to room temperature.
• Repeat with the remaining dough, cooling the baking sheets between batches.

CARAMEL CRACKLES

Steps:

• Combine caramels, cream butter & marshmallows in a saucepan, stir over low heat without boiling, until the marshmallows and caramels have melted and the mixture is smooth.
• Combine rice bubbles and coconut in a bowl and stir through the melted mixture.
• Spoon into patty cases and refrigerate several hours until firm.