Description
Delight in these rich and chewy Chocolate Cherry Cookies, combining luscious cocoa, sweet chocolate chips, and tart dried cherries for a perfect holiday treat. Soft in the middle with slightly crisp edges, these homemade cookies balance decadent chocolate flavor with a fruity burst, ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup dried cherries (or chopped maraschino cherries, well drained)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and well combined to ensure a smooth cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time to incorporate fully, then mix in the vanilla extract and, if using, the almond extract for added depth of flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended, forming the dry base for the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring continuously until fully incorporated into a uniform cookie dough.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and Cherries: Gently stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and dried or maraschino cherries ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
- Portion Cookie Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers remain slightly soft, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Dried tart cherries provide a pleasant chew and balance the richness of the chocolate perfectly.
- For an extra burst of cherry flavor, chopped maraschino cherries can be used, but ensure they are well-drained and blotted dry to avoid excess moisture affecting the cookie texture.
- Cookies freeze well for up to 3 months, making them convenient for make-ahead treats.
