Cherry Walnut Bites Aka Raw Balls Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Drain maraschino cherries on paper towels; pat dry to remove any excess liquid.
• Set cherries aside.
• Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
• Beat in the 1/2 cup powdered sugar, almond extract, and vanilla until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.
• Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer.
• Stir in any remaining flour, nuts, and cherries with a wooden spoon.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown.
• Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets on wire racks.
• Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar to coat and transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
• If desired, roll cooled cookies in additional powdered sugar before serving. Makes about 48 balls.
• *NOTE: To toast nuts, spread them in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake in a preheated 325F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until nuts are slightly golden brown, stirring once or twice. Cool completely. Chop nuts and set aside.
• TO STORE: Place cookies in layers separated by pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies, if frozen, before serving.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Stir in the crackers, walnuts and cheese. Coat hands with cooking spray; shape mixture into 1-in. balls. Place in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray., In a small saucepan, combine sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Pour over walnut balls. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.

Steps:

• Dry the cherries on paper towel.
• Cream the butter and gradually mix in the icing sugar and orange juice.
• Add coconut and mix well.
• Note: this mixture will be soft.
• Roll a small portion of the coconut mixture evenly around each cherry and then roll in graham wafer crumbs.
• Place on wax paper and keep cool.