Preheat oven to 300 F.
Cream together the butter and the sugar for 5 minutes.
Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Beat to combine.
Pour in the flour and beat just until the dough comes together.
Chill in the refrigerator.
Use a tablespoon to break off pieces of dough all the same size. Aim for 1-inch rounds.
Roll each piece of dough into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Flatten slightly with a fork. Top each cookie with a cherry.
Bake in oven until light brown on the edges, approximately 12-15minutes.
Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the tray.
