Description
These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with the sweet, tangy flavor of cherries combined with rich chocolate chips. Perfect for holidays, parties, or just a cozy night in, these cookies offer a delightful twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie with bites of candied cherry throughout.
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
Mix-ins:
1 cup chopped maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2 In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
3 Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4 In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
5 Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips. Make sure the cherries are well-drained and blotted dry with paper towels to prevent excess moisture in the dough.
6 Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7 Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set. The cookies may appear slightly soft in the center but will firm up as they cool.
8 Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For best results, make sure to thoroughly dry the cherries to avoid adding too much moisture to the dough. You can also chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help prevent spreading. If you prefer a darker chocolate flavor, substitute semi-sweet chips with dark chocolate chips. These cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.