Description
Christmas Cherry Bombs are a delightful no-bake holiday treat featuring maraschino cherries enveloped in a creamy sweetened cream cheese mixture, dipped in smooth white chocolate, and rolled in crunchy graham crackers and pecans for a festive burst of flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coating
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the cream cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring there are no lumps for a consistent texture.
- Fold in cherries: Gently fold the drained and patted dry maraschino cherries into the cream cheese mixture, coating each cherry well without breaking them apart.
- Form cherry balls: Using a small spoon or your hands, shape the cherry and cream cheese mixture into bite-sized balls, ensuring they are compact and uniform in size for even chilling and coating.
- Freeze to firm: Arrange the formed balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until they are firm enough to handle without losing shape during dipping.
- Melt white chocolate: Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl using 30-second intervals. After each interval, stir the chocolate until fully melted and smooth to avoid burning.
- Coat cherry balls: Dip each frozen cherry ball carefully into the melted white chocolate, making sure each ball is completely covered for that smooth, glossy finish.
- Roll in toppings: Immediately roll the coated balls in the crushed graham crackers and chopped pecans to give them a crunchy texture and added flavor complexity.
- Chill to set: Place the coated cherry bombs back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate them for at least 1 hour until the white chocolate coating is fully set and firm.
- Serve chilled: Once set, serve the Christmas Cherry Bombs chilled as a charming and festive dessert or holiday treat perfect for parties or gifting.
Notes
- Ensure cherries are well drained and patted dry to prevent excess moisture that can affect the texture.
- If you prefer a nut-free version, omit the chopped pecans or substitute with additional crushed graham crackers.
- Use high-quality white chocolate for best flavor and smooth coating.
- Store refrigerated in an airtight container; consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness.
- For easier dipping, use two forks or a toothpick to hold the balls when coating in chocolate.
- You can substitute pecans with other nuts like walnuts or almonds based on preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday treats, cherry desserts, cream cheese, white chocolate, no bake, Christmas dessert, festive snacks
