To me, the holidays will always be about family – and food. There’s something magical about gathering around the table, sharing stories and laughter, and indulging in recipes that carry memories from year to year. In the countdown to Christmas, we lean most heavily on time-honored traditions and beloved treats, savoring any excuse to gather, indulge, and unwind.
This year, however, I’m branching out a little with a brand-new (to me, at least) recipe: Joanna Gaines’ chocolate cherry mashers. I discovered this sweet treat while scrolling through videos shared by Magnolia Table, and I wasted no time tracking down all the details on Joanna Gaines’ blog. More affectionately known as Aunt Mary's Cherry Mashers, these little bites are, frankly, genius: combining frosting mix and powdered sugar with maraschino cherries and condensed milk, they firm up in the freezer before being dunked in chocolate.
Just like Joanna Gaines' famous sugar cookies, her cherry bites feel instantly like a holiday classic. They’re perfect for sharing, gifting, or enjoying as a sweet moment amid the festive chaos, and I’ll definitely be making them as edible Christmas gifts this year.
'There is an unexpected delight that comes with the blend of cherry and chocolate,' writes Joanna on her blog. 'My dad’s sister used to make these candies every year around the holidays, and his love for them became my own. I asked my aunt Mary if I could share her recipe in this book, and she gladly obliged.'
Since I spent the fall stocking up on the kitchenware from Joanna Gaines' new cooking show, I'm now the proud owner of the Magnolia flat cookie sheet, some stylish walnut and copper measuring spoons, and a set of vintage-inspired mixing bowls – so it's only right that I put them to good use by trying out some of Joanna's cherished recipes. You can find this one in Joanna's cookbook, Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering, Volume 2, but I've outlined the full recipe below, plus a few essential bakeware pieces to shop for, too.
Joanna Gaines' Chocolate Cherry Mashers Recipe
The moment I spotted the recipe for these cherry mashers, I knew they were exactly what I wanted in a festive treat: irresistibly indulgent yet delightfully moreish. Best of all, they’re blissfully no-bake, making it easy to whip up large batches at short notice – perfect for entertaining or bringing to a holiday party.
Ingredients
- One 7.2oz package of Betty Crocker Home Style Fluffy White Frosting Mix (if you can’t find this, simply omit it and decrease the amount of sweetened condensed milk to 3 tbsp)
- 1 lb powdered sugar
- 6 tbsp (¾ stick) margarine, at room temperature
- One 10-oz jar maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- One 20-oz package chocolate almond bark, broken into smaller pieces
- One 11.5oz bag milk chocolate chips
- 2 ½ cups dry-roasted salted peanuts, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Elevate your baking setup with Magnolia's hammered gold and copper measuring cups
Method
- Line a flat cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixer (Joanna uses the KitchenAid Artisan 5qt stand mixer) fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the frosting mix, powdered sugar, margarine, maraschino cherries, vanilla, and condensed milk.
- Beat on low speed, gradually turning the speed to medium until the mixture takes on a fluffy consistency (about 4 minutes).
- Form the mixture into 1-inch balls using a ¾oz cookie scoop, like this one from Amazon. Place on the prepared baking sheet and freeze until firm (approx. 1 to 2 hours).
- To make the chocolate coating, combine the chocolate bark, chocolate chips, peanuts, and vegetable oil in a medium saucepan and melt over medium heat, mixing to combine.
- Working in batches, remove the cherry balls from the freezer and dunk them one at a time with a fork or spoon into the chocolate mixture. Allow any excess chocolate to drip off over the pan, then return the balls to the parchment paper.
- Refrigerate until completely hardened (about 20 minutes), then serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Shop Everything You Need to Make Joanna Gaines' Cherry Mashers
Bring some organic textures into your kitchen with this handsome set of measuring spoons. They pair wonderfully with the rest of Magnolia's copper kitchen utensils, including the chic copper mixing bowls.
This charming set from the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia is the perfect way to add a festive touch to your baking setup – or treat the keen bakers in your life. I love the nostalgic red accents.
Home cooks should never be without a reliable set of pans and baking sheets just like this one. The Magnolia baking pan is a wise investment, too – especially during hosting season.
If you're looking for the best cookware on the market, we love Made In here at Homes & Gardens. This saucepan is durable, easy to use, and it's also some of the best non-toxic cookware you can buy.
I just can't get enough of copper bakeware, and this is perhaps the most stylish flour sifter I've found. Who said kitchen essentials can't be so chic that they could practically double as decor?
Treating friends and family to batches of freshly-baked desserts is one thing, but gifting them in a lovely tin like this one will really make all the difference. Nothing says Christmas like plaid, after all.
Want to really level up your holiday baking? Joanna Gaines' Silo Cookies are faultless – it's no wonder they're beloved by Magnolia's customers.
