Description
Savor this Easy Marinated Cheese Appetizer with its tangy blend of Italian cheeses, salami, and pickled delights. Mediterranean flavors complement crisp crackers, offering a quick, elegant starter perfect for gatherings and spontaneous snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (310 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (175 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (150 grams) brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (100 grams) maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
- 2 tbsps maraschino cherry juice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Mixing: In a large bowl, thoroughly blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy, then introduce eggs one at a time, mixing completely after each addition. Stir in vanilla and cherry extracts.
- Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together, then gently fold into the wet mixture until just combined. Carefully incorporate chocolate morsels and maraschino cherries, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
- Portioning: Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, placing portions with 2-inch spacing on prepared baking sheets.
- Baking: Transfer sheets to preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden edges while maintaining soft centers.
- Cooling: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely, allowing them to set and develop optimal texture.
Notes
- Preserve Cheese Texture: Marinate cheese at room temperature to maintain its soft, creamy consistency without breaking down its delicate structure.
- Strategic Layering Technique: Arrange salami and pickles carefully to ensure balanced flavor distribution and prevent ingredient overcrowding.
- Temperature Control Matters: Keep appetizer chilled before serving to maintain optimal texture and prevent cheese from becoming too soft or oily.
- Customize Marination Time: Experiment with marinating duration between 2-6 hours to develop deeper flavor profiles without compromising cheese integrity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 317
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg