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    Food » Cookies 'n Cupcakes » Cherry Winks Cornflake Cookies

    Cherry Winks Cornflake Cookies

    Posted: 12/05/2017 | Last updated: 03/01/2022 by Erin K. Browne 23 Comments
    Post may contain affiliate links via Amazon Associates or other programs. (Disclosure)

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    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes!  There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    These delightful little cookies have a fun history, are full of lots of tasty ingredients, and are really simple to make.  The cookies have a crispy cornflake crunch on the outside, followed by layer of chewy cookie, and then the inside soft but full of crunch and chew from the addition of nuts, Dates Malaysia, and maraschino cherries.

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes! There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    The original recipe for Cherry Winks was created by Ruth Derousseau, who submitted it to Pillsbury's 2nd Grand National Recipe & Baking Contest in 1951.  Ruth was the junior winner and took home a check for $5,000!

    ... but why the heck is cookie spelled "cooky"?

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes!  There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    The original recipe calls for shortening, though while researching I found others recommending salted butter or margarine.  Because I usually prefer the flavor of butter over shortening, I chose to use salted butter at room temperature.  I did not chill the dough prior to baking and didn't have any issues with the cookies spreading too much while baking.  You may think that adding extra salt to a recipe already using salted butter would be a bit much, but in this case it really isn't - I think it needed that extra zip.

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes!  There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    What initially got me thinking about trying this recipe was a Facebook post made by my mom.  She remembered making these cookies in a Home Economics course in high school and asked if anyone had the original recipe.  Surprisingly, a fellow classmate not only had the recipe, but had her original handwritten card.  So cool!

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes!  There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    The original recipe recommends using pecans, though other versions say you can use any kind of chopped nuts.  I prefer pecans!

    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes!  There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes! There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

    Cherry Winks Cornflake Cookies

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 5 reviews

    Print Recipe
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    • Total Time: 12 mins
    • Yield: 5.5 dozen cookies 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ¾ cup salted butter
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 TBS milk
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 cup finely-chopped pecans
    • 1 cup finely-chopped dates
    • ⅓ cup finely-chopped maraschino cherries
    • 2 ½ cups cornflakes, crushed
    • 15-18 maraschino cherries, cut into quarters

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375F
    2. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
    3. In a second bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each one. Stir in the milk and vanilla, and then add the dry ingredients with the pecans, dates, and chopped cherries. Mix well.
    4. Using a level tablespoon or slightly mounded small cookie scoop, shape dough into balls, roll in crushed cornflakes, and place onto greased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.
    5. Bake 11-12 minutes or until browned.
    • Author: Erin Browne
    • Cook Time: 12 mins

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    Old Fashioned Cherry Winks cookies rolled in crushed Corn Flakes! There's something so cozy about vintage recipes!

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    About Erin K. Browne

    Erin K. Browne is an author of a cookbook (The Unofficial Dollywood Cookbook, Simon & Schuster/Adams Media) and Dollywood guide (The Ultimate Guide to Dollywood, Simon & Schuster/Adams Media) She has over two decades experience with recipe development. Erin is a mom of two human babies and a sweet kitty named Biscuit Fingers ("Ketto"). She loves comfy clothes, sarcastic t-shirts, and reading thrillers. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Post may contain affiliate links including those via the Amazon Associates program

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Ej

      December 10, 2023 at 4:34 pm

      The cornflakes can get alittle chewy after a couple days but you can throw a few cookies in a toaster oven or even air fryer for a couple minutes and they crisp right up. I just bought a air fryer with slide out trays just for reheating cookies, leftover fries and chicken tenders lol. Im sure I'll do more with it but seriously that was the main reason.
      I usually underbake a few and freeze them and my mom can just take out a few at a time and bake them for a few minutes and they taste like i just made them.






      Reply
    2. Louise Gliatto

      December 11, 2020 at 6:49 pm

      What brand dates do you use? are they already chopped?

      Reply
      • Erin

        December 16, 2020 at 6:03 pm

        You can use any brand as long as they are not the pre-chopped "snacking" dates with the coating. The coating will keep the balls from sticking together. I use the whole dates and chop them myself.

        Reply
      • MK

        December 11, 2021 at 6:39 pm

        When do you add the quartered maraschino cherries? Before or after the cookies are baked? Thanks

        Reply
        • Erin

          December 12, 2021 at 7:53 am

          After the cookies have been placed on the baking sheet, before baking. 🙂

          Reply
      • Jen S

        December 31, 2021 at 6:58 pm

        I love these cookies. This is one of my father’s favorite cookies to make at Christmas. He has made them since the 70’s. Our family leaves out the dates. The cookies freeze well.






        Reply
    3. Michelle

      August 03, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      This is my grandma who invented them...thank you for your condolences...

      Reply
      • Erin

        August 07, 2020 at 7:59 am

        That's amazing! Your grandma's recipe has lived on forever.

        Reply
      • Ej

        December 10, 2023 at 4:20 pm

        These are my both moms and my favorite cookies. I make they are always the second batch i make at christmas and the 2nd to last batch. I have to make hubs tollhouse butterscotch cookies 1st and last...or he complains (rolling eyes). It isnt christmas without cherry winks. Her recipe will live on forever.






        Reply
    4. Sheree Wieland

      July 11, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      My mother and father were married December 26, 1954. She said she made a couple of batches really small cookies for her wedding. She had lost the recipe and I was able to Google it and will get the whole article printed out to give to her. She had remembered most of this when she told me about it.
      She just glowed thinking of you again. So glad I could find the article!!

      Reply
      • Erin

        July 18, 2020 at 12:41 pm

        I love this story - thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    5. Just a Reader

      May 21, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      I found your post today after reading the obituary of the woman who created the recipe.

      RIP Ruth Derousseau. She was only 17, married with two young children, when she won the $5,000 prize and trip to New York. Quite a life...

      https://www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_chronotype/obituaries/ruth-marie-derousseau/article_a0ea27d0-9b81-11ea-953f-d73ff0acadfc.html

      Reply
    6. Debra Ruffing

      December 11, 2019 at 7:17 pm

      I will have to try this without nuts...anyone else ever tried that. My granddaughter is allergic to all tree nuts and peanuts...

      Reply
      • Erin

        December 17, 2019 at 2:28 pm

        Hmm, I'm not sure how that would work with the texture - maybe you could replace it with something
        with a similar crunch, like toffee chips, or add more cornflakes to make up for it? The flavors/texture probably won't be the same.

        Reply
        • Wanda

          December 18, 2020 at 6:03 pm

          We can not have nuts so we omit them. For the missing crunch we add the crush cornflakes in the cookie mixture instead of rolling them in the flakes. Also, by accident we ran out of dates and use raisins instead. They were not bad. Dates are better but raisins are can do in a pinch

          Reply
      • Ej

        December 10, 2023 at 4:24 pm

        I have. There were MANY years we just couldn't afford the pecans as they can be pricey when you have 3 littles and living on one income. They turn out just fine. But the nut flavor really brings it all together... but if im out of pecans i still make them. Still yummy






        Reply
    7. Eleanor Phillips

      December 11, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Doesn't the hand-written card miss 1/2 baking soda? Do we need it of not?

      Reply
      • Erin

        December 17, 2019 at 2:28 pm

        I used the recipe that's on the printable version (blue background) on this post. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Anna

      November 01, 2019 at 6:37 pm

      I had lost my Mom’s recipe for Cherry Winks. Was so happy when I came across yours as it is almost exactly what I remember her recipe to be. Will definitely be making these for Christmas. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. erin

      April 29, 2019 at 11:43 pm

      You are writing about my grandmother Ruth Derousseau who was the best cook! My name is Erin also I really liked this thank you!!!






      Reply
      • Erin

        May 01, 2019 at 9:18 am

        That is SO cool!! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    10. A C

      December 06, 2017 at 8:16 am

      Just as a point of interest, the Cherry Wink cookie recipe is on the back of my current box of cornflakes.

      Reply
      • Dora Cee

        December 21, 2018 at 5:20 pm

        I like to use almond extract instead of or in addition to vanilla

        Reply

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