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Home » Cookies » Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Published: Jan 24, 2022 · Modified: Apr 1, 2022 by Allison · 2 Comments

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These fudgy chocolate cookies are loaded with two types of cherries and lots of chocolate chunks. The perfect cookie for Valentine’s Day or any day that you want to share a sweet treat with the chocolate lovers in your life. The combination of cherries and chocolate is fantastic!

These Chocolate Cherry Cookies are inspired by our Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. The addition of two types of cherries (maraschino cherries and dried cherries) adds a delicious twist that takes this recipe over the top. This recipe has quickly joined our Monster Cookies, Cookies Cups, and Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies as a family favorite.

Closeup of chocolate cherry cookies on parchment paper.
Jump to:
  • Why you’ll love these cookies
  • Recipe overview
  • What type of cherries to use
  • Recipe tips
  • How to get perfectly round cookies
  • More cookie recipes
  • Recipe

Why you’ll love these cookies

Flavor: Chocolate flavor from a combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips/chunks paired with two types of sweet cherries, maraschino cherries and dried cherries.

Texture: Crisp edges, soft centers, fudginess from chocolate chips, chewiness from dried cherries, and juicy maraschino cherries throughout.

Ease: This cookie dough comes together quickly and easily. The dough is often ready before my oven is even fully preheated!

No chill time: These cookies can be baked right away. No need to chill the dough.

Recipe overview

Start by preparing the cookie dough: beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Beat in dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cornstarch).

Collage showing the steps of making cookie dough in a large stainless bowl.

Add the mix-ins! Stir in maraschino cherries, dried cherries and chocolate chips or chunks.

Stainless bowl filled with chocolate cookie dough, cherries, and chocolate chunks.
Chocolate cookie dough filled with cherries and chocolate chunks.

Scoop the dough into 2 tablespoon balls and bake for 8-10 minutes.

What type of cherries to use

This recipe uses two types of cherries. Maraschino cherries and dried cherries. The maraschino cherries are juicy and sweet and the dried cherries are chewy with an intense cherry flavor. If you’d prefer to only use one or the other, that’s fine, too. I recommend ⅔ cup dried cherries OR ¾ cup maraschino cherries.

Jar of maraschino cherries next to a bowl of dried cherries.

Recipe tips

  • Butter should be softened but still cool to the touch. If the butter is over-softened (or beginning to melt) the cookies will spread too much in the oven.
  • Optional chill time. You can bake these cookies immediately after preparing the dough (as pictured) but for thicker cookies you can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. 
  • Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This helps the cookies bake evenly and prevents them from spreading too much. Bonus: it also makes cleanup a breeze!
  • Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies. 
  • Under bake the cookies. The edges of the cookies should be beginning to set but the center should still be underdone. They should be so soft that you cannot pick them up off the baking sheet without them falling apart. They will firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
Stack of three chocolate cherry cookies.

How to get perfectly round cookies

Option 1: Immediately after the cookies come out the oven use the back of a spoon to gently push the edges inward to create clean edges and a round shape.

Option 2: Place a round glass or bowl (larger than the cookie) upside down over the top of the cookie and quickly but gently swirl the glass in a circular motion allowing the edges of the cookies to bump up against the insides of the glass. This only works when the cookies are hot, straight from the oven.

More cookie recipes

  • Oatmeal Cream Pies
  • S’mores Cookies
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies

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Recipe

Closeup of chocolate cherry cookies on parchment paper.

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

These fudgy chocolate cookies are loaded with two types of cherries and lots of chocolate chunks.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 14
Calories: 209kcal
Author: Allison – Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened, but still slightly cool
  • ⅔ cup light brown sugar, should be fresh and soft
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons all purpose flour*
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ⅔ cup chopped maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry
  • ⅓ cup sweetened dried cherries
  • ½ cup chocolate chips or chunks, plus more for topping, if desired

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Using a hand mixer, or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for several minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa, flour, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until combined. Stir in maraschino cherries, dried cherries, and chocolate chips.
  • Scoop the dough into 2 tablespoon portions and place a couple inches apart on prepared cookie sheets**. Make sure the dough balls are mounded fairly high (not flattened). If desired, press a couple chocolate chips onto the tops of each dough ball. Bake for 8-11 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to set and the center is still underdone. They will look under baked and too soft to pick up, but the cookies will set as they cool. Place the baking sheets on wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

*To properly measure flour: fluff the flour with your measuring cup, scoop a heaping portion and level it off with the back of a knife. 
**For thicker cookies place the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking. 
Cherries: This recipe uses two types of cherries: Maraschino cherries and dried cherries. The maraschino cherries are juicy and sweet and the dried cherries are chewy with an intense cherry flavor. If you’d prefer to only use one or the other that’s fine, too. I recommend ⅔ cup dried cherries OR ¾ cup maraschino cherries. 
How to get perfectly round cookies:
Option 1: Immediately after the cookies come out the oven use the back of a spoon to gently push the edges inward to create clean edges and a round shape.
Option 2: Place a round glass or bowl (larger than the cookie) upside down over the top of the cookie and quickly but gently swirl the glass in a circular motion allowing the edges of the cookies to bump up against the insides of the glass. This only works when the cookies are hot, straight from the oven.
Storage: Store these cookies in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They are best eaten slightly warm or at room temperature. They will soften over time from the moisture in the cherries.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 329IU | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

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Comments

  1. Gina

    January 26, 2022 at 10:33 am

    5 stars
    Love how soft and chewy these are, can’t beat the combination of chocolate and cherries!

    Reply
  2. Diana

    January 26, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    What a perfect cookie for the upcoming Valentine’s day holiday. I will be making and sharing these with all my loved ones.

    Reply

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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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