Vegan Cherry Bon-Bon Cookies

Submitted by Chef #1800679904

"Taste of Home's Cherry Bon Bon cookies were a holiday and gift staple in my house--So imagine how I, now a vegan trying to inspire others to adopt a plant-based and cruelty free diet, felt daunted by the idea of not being able to continue my holiday traditions. So instead of giving it up, I put on my big girl pants and worked at that recipe until it was vegan, and not one of my non-vegan coworkers would be complaining that I deprived them of butter. It is important for a vegan recipe that you use VEGAN sugar-- most people don't know that standard granulated and powdered sugar is refined with animal bone char, therefore making it non-vegan. If you can't find vegan powdered sugar at your grocery store, opt for an equal amount of unrefined CANE sugar and pulverize it in your blender until it becomes a powder. (Worst comes to worst, order vegan powdered sugar online from a reputable source and have it sent to your doorstep.) When cooking for someone with a soy allergy, opt for almond milk. If allergic to almonds, you may also find rice and hemp milk work just as well."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 20mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 24 cookies
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• For the cookie

• 1⁄2 cup margarine (Vegan option -- I use Earth Balance)
• 3⁄4 cup powdered sugar (yegan powdered sugar is available)
• 2 tablespoons original soymilk (elect almond milk if baking for someone with soy allergies)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1⁄2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 24 maraschino cherries (Merry Cherry brand as a non-GMO, non-dyed, vegan option)

• For the icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar (elect vegan option)
• 1 tablespoon margarine (vegan Earth Balance)
• 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice (reserved from jar)

directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 2. Drain maraschino cherries in a collander, reserving the liquid in a small cup, bowl or jar. Dry off cherries with a paper towel, tossing around to remove all excess juice that may gather at the bottom of the collander. Set aside.
3. 3. In a large bowl, cream Earth Balance and vegan powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add soymilk and vanilla extract. In a seperate bowl combine flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.
4. 4. Gather any loose moist crumbs with your hands and press together to form a ball of dough. Divide dough into 24 portions; shape each portion around a cherry. Try to handle lightly and as quick as possible to prevent your hands from getting greasy. Dough should fit around each cherry with no air bubbles inside. Pinch and smooth the dough together and roll around in palms. For a more perfect domed "bon-bon" shape, press cookie into a circle tablespoon, and remove gently to retain shape. Place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. 5. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
6. 6. For glaze, combine the powdered sugar, melted Earth Balance and cherry juice until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired.