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Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

4.6 from 55 reviews

Delight in these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies with a perfect balance of sweet maraschino cherries and rich semisweet chocolate chips. Soft, chewy, and bursting with flavor, these cookies are enhanced with vanilla and almond extracts and a touch of cherry juice for extra depth. Ideal for holiday treats or everyday indulgences.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2⅔ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice
  • 2 to 3 drops pink food color

Add-ins

  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda until evenly combined. Set aside.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened salted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until light, fluffy, and well combined using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed.
  3. Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the large egg until incorporated. Then mix in the vanilla extract, almond extract, reserved cherry juice, and pink food coloring drops until the dough has a uniform pale pink color.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
  5. Fold in Cherries and Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and semisweet chocolate chips with a spatula, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
  6. Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help the flavors meld and prevent spreading during baking.
  7. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  8. Shape and Bake Cookies: Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, spacing the balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are golden and centers are set but still soft.
  9. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

  • Using salted butter enhances flavor, but if using unsalted, reduce added salt accordingly.
  • Chilling dough is important to keep cookies from spreading too much.
  • Maraschino cherries add sweetness; for less sugary cookies, rinse and dry cherries before chopping.
  • Adding food coloring is optional but lends a fun pink tint to the dough.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • These cookies freeze well both baked and as dough balls.

Keywords: Cherry chocolate chip cookies, maraschino cherry cookies, chocolate chip cookies, holiday cookies, chewy cookies, pink cookies