The Ultimate Recipe for Soft & Chewy Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Delightful Twist!
There’s nothing quite like a classic chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes you crave a little twist, a burst of unexpected flavor that elevates a beloved treat. That’s precisely what our Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies deliver! Imagine sinking your teeth into a cookie that’s perfectly soft and delightfully chewy, each bite bursting with vibrant cherry flavor, complemented by juicy bits of sweet maraschino cherries and rich, melting chocolate chips. This recipe isn’t just a cookie; it’s an experience, transforming the familiar comfort of a chocolate chip cookie into something truly special and unforgettable. Whether you’re a long-time cherry enthusiast or just looking to impress with a unique homemade dessert, these cookies are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and become a new favorite in your baking repertoire. Get ready to discover the magic of cherry and chocolate coming together in perfect harmony, creating a truly irresistible treat that everyone will adore!
My love for anything cherry, especially when paired with chocolate, runs deep. These homemade cherry chocolate chip cookies perfectly capture that delightful combination, making them one of my absolute favorite cookie creations. The addition of finely diced maraschino cherries provides a lovely texture and a burst of fruity sweetness, while a touch of cherry extract in the dough amplifies the overall cherry flavor, creating a perfect balance with the rich, creamy chocolate chips. Each cookie is a little bite of heaven, offering a unique flavor profile that stands out from typical cookie recipes. They are ideal for holiday baking, special occasions, or simply as a sweet, comforting indulgence on any day of the week.
Expert Tips for Baking Perfectly Amazing Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Achieving the perfect cookie isn’t just about following the recipe; it’s about understanding the nuances of baking. Here are some detailed tips to ensure your Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies turn out wonderfully soft, chewy, and full of flavor every single time. These insights will help you avoid common pitfalls and elevate your baking game:
- Ensure Proper Flour Consistency: The right amount of flour is absolutely critical for achieving the ideal cookie texture. If your dough feels overly sticky after mixing, especially since you’re adding fruit, you might need a tiny bit more flour. Maraschino cherries, even when well-drained, can introduce extra moisture into the dough, which might cause cookies to spread more than desired. A good strategy is to bake a small test batch of 1-2 cookies first. If these cookies spread too much or are too flat, gradually add a tablespoon or two more all-purpose flour to the remaining dough, mixing until just combined, before baking the rest. This adjustment helps prevent overly flat, crispy, or greasy cookies.
- Never Use Melted Butter: This is a golden rule for many cookie recipes, and it’s particularly important here! Your butter needs to be softened to room temperature—meaning it should be pliable enough to leave an indentation when gently pressed, but not shiny or greasy. Softened butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air that creates a light, tender crumb. Melted butter, on the other hand, will result in dense, flat, and often greasy cookies because it alters the fat’s structure and its interaction with other ingredients. For best results, plan ahead and take your butter out of the fridge at least an hour before you intend to start baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars Thoroughly: Do not rush this step! Creaming the softened butter with both brown and granulated sugars for at least 2-3 minutes is a foundational step. This process incorporates air into the mixture, creating a light, fluffy, and aerated base. It also helps to dissolve the sugar crystals, contributing to a smoother, more consistent texture in your baked cookies. A well-creamed base is essential for achieving that characteristic soft and chewy center.
- Preheat Your Oven Properly: Always, always preheat your oven to the specified temperature (350°F or 175°C) before placing your cookie dough inside. A consistently hot oven ensures that the cookies begin baking immediately and evenly, allowing the leavening agents (baking soda and baking powder) to activate correctly. Baking in a cold or improperly preheated oven will result in cookies that spread too much, bake unevenly, or develop a less desirable, tougher texture.
- Utilize a Cookie Scoop for Uniformity: For perfectly shaped, consistently sized cookies, a cookie scoop is an invaluable tool. This simple device not only saves you time but also guarantees even baking across the entire batch. When all cookies are the same size, they cook at the same rate, preventing some from being underbaked while others are overbaked. This leads to a beautiful, uniform presentation and consistent texture.
- Bake on Parchment Paper or Silicone Mats: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat. This critical step prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan, promotes even browning on the bottoms, and makes cleanup incredibly easy. Your baked cookies will effortlessly slide off the sheet, maintaining their perfect shape without any scraping or breakage.
- Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for achieving soft and chewy cookies. When you remove your Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies from the oven, they should still look slightly underbaked in the center, with the edges just beginning to turn a very light golden brown. Do not wait for them to look fully “done” in the oven. The residual heat from the hot baking sheet will continue to cook them for a few more minutes as they cool, allowing them to firm up to that ideal soft and chewy texture. Overbaking is the quickest way to end up with dry, hard, and crumbly cookies.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crafting these delectable Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies starts with selecting and preparing the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving their signature taste and irresistible soft and chewy texture:
- Butter: You’ll need two sticks (equivalent to 1 cup) of unsalted butter. As mentioned in our tips, it is absolutely crucial that the butter is softened to room temperature. This state allows it to cream properly with the sugars, incorporating air and contributing to the cookie’s light and tender crumb.
- Brown Sugar: One cup of packed light or dark brown sugar is used for its rich molasses content. This ingredient adds significant moisture, chewiness, and a delightful caramel-like depth of flavor to the cookies. Always ensure your brown sugar is fresh and soft for the best results; if it’s hard or lumpy, consider softening it before measuring.
- Granulated Sugar: A cup of white granulated sugar works harmoniously with the brown sugar. It provides essential sweetness and helps achieve that slightly crisp edge that perfectly contrasts with the chewy interior of these cookies.
- Vanilla Pudding Mix (Instant): This is truly the secret ingredient that makes these cookies incredibly special! A small 3-ounce box of *instant* vanilla pudding mix (ensure it’s the dry powder, not prepared pudding) is added directly to the dough. It acts as a powerful tenderizer and humectant, helping to create remarkably soft, moist, and flavorful cookies that also stay fresh for a longer period.
- Eggs: Two large eggs are essential binders in this recipe. They help hold all the ingredients together, provide structure, and contribute to the cookie’s richness and moisture. For optimal emulsification, ensure your eggs are also at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract: Using a good quality vanilla extract or even a Vanilla Bean Paste will significantly enhance the overall flavor profile of your cookies. Vanilla adds a warm, aromatic depth that complements both the cherry and chocolate beautifully.
- Cherry Extract: This ingredient is key to boosting that irresistible, vibrant cherry flavor throughout the cookie! You only need half a teaspoon, as flavor extracts are potent and concentrated. It ensures the cherry essence shines through distinctly, complementing the maraschino cherries without being overpowering.
- Salt: Just one teaspoon of fine sea salt or table salt is vital. Salt doesn’t just make things salty; it’s a flavor enhancer that balances and brightens all the other sweet flavors in the cookies, preventing them from tasting bland or one-dimensional.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder: You’ll need one teaspoon of each. These are your leavening agents, working synergistically to give the cookies their perfect rise, spread, and desired chewiness. Baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients (like brown sugar), while baking powder provides an additional lift. Always double-check that both are fresh and not expired for optimal results.
- All-Purpose Flour: Approximately 3 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour provide the necessary structural backbone for these soft and chewy cookies. Proper measurement is crucial for preventing dense or crumbly cookies; spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge for accuracy.
- Red Food Coloring (Optional): For a more visually striking, beautiful pinkish hue in your cookies, 4-5 drops of red food coloring can be added to the dough. This is entirely for aesthetic appeal and will not alter the delicious taste.
- Maraschino Cherries: A 10-ounce jar of maraschino cherries is the star fruit of this recipe. The most important preparation step here is to drain them exceptionally well and then pat them thoroughly dry with several layers of paper towels. This removes excess moisture that could otherwise make your cookies spread too much or become soggy. Quarter them into small, manageable pieces so they distribute evenly and provide a burst of flavor in every bite.
- Chocolate Chips: One standard bag (about 2 cups) of high-quality chocolate chips is just the right amount, though you can always add a little more if you’re a true chocoholic! Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a popular choice as they offer a balanced sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the tart-sweet cherries. However, milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips would also be delicious, depending on your personal preference and how intense you want the chocolate flavor to be.
How to Make Delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these easy, detailed steps to bake your very own batch of soft, chewy, and irresistibly flavorful Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. Precision in each step ensures the best results:
- Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). It’s essential to allow your oven ample time to reach and stabilize at the correct temperature before baking. While the oven heats, prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This crucial step ensures non-stick baking, promotes even browning, and makes cleanup significantly easier.
- Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (either a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer), cream together the softened unsalted butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated white sugar. Beat them on medium speed for a good 2-3 minutes until the mixture appears light, fluffy, and visibly pale in color. This process is crucial for incorporating air into the mixture, which contributes to the cookies’ final tender crumb and soft texture.
- Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients and Flavorings. To the well-creamed butter and sugar mixture, add the dry instant vanilla pudding mix powder, the two large room-temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and the cherry extract. Continue to mix on medium speed for another 1-2 minutes until all these ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth and cohesive.
- Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients. Gradually add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, and the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed, just until all the dry ingredients are fully incorporated and no streaks of flour remain visible in the dough. Be very careful not to overmix the dough at this stage, as overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough and less tender cookies.
- Step 5: Add Optional Food Coloring. If you desire a beautiful, subtle pinkish tint for your Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies, now is the perfect time to add 4-5 drops of red food coloring. Gently mix it in until the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough. This step is purely for aesthetic appeal and will not alter the delicious taste.
- Step 6: Fold in Cherries and Chocolate Chips. Finally, using a sturdy rubber spatula, gently fold in the thoroughly drained, patted dry, and quartered maraschino cherries along with your chosen chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark). Mix just until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough. Be careful not to overmix, and avoid crushing the delicate cherry pieces.
- Step 7: Scoop and Bake. Use a cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 to 2 tablespoons in size) to portion out uniform balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Ensure you leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for proper spreading during baking. Bake in your preheated oven for 10-11 minutes. It’s crucial not to overbake; the centers of the cookies should still look slightly soft and slightly underdone when you remove them from the oven, with edges just beginning to turn a very light golden brown.
- Step 8: Cool. Once baked, immediately remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the hot baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes. This crucial cooling period on the baking sheet allows the cookies to continue cooking slightly from residual heat, firm up, and set properly without becoming brittle. After this initial cooling, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these warm, delightful treats fresh from the oven, or let them cool for later!
CHERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
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Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 3 oz package of dry instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract good quality
- ½ tsp cherry extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 4-5 drops red food coloring optional, for a pinkish tint
- 10 oz. jar maraschino cherries thoroughly drained, patted dry with paper towels, and quartered
- 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips about 2 cups; or milk/dark chocolate as preferred
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone mats.
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In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with both brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy (approximately 2-3 minutes).
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Add the dry instant vanilla pudding mix, large eggs, vanilla extract, and cherry extract. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
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Gradually add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, and all-purpose flour. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough.
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If you wish for your cookies to have a lovely pinkish tint, add 4-5 drops of red food coloring at this stage and mix thoroughly until the color is even.
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Gently fold in the quartered, well-drained maraschino cherries and the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough.
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Use a cookie scoop to place dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving enough space between them. Bake for 10-11 minutes. It’s crucial not to overbake; the centers should look slightly soft. Cool on the baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
How Do You Soften Butter to Perfection?
Softening butter correctly is a critical step for achieving great cookie texture. My preferred and most reliable method involves using the defrost function on my microwave. If you need a full stick (1/2 cup) of butter, you can conveniently leave it in its paper wrapper. For smaller amounts, place the butter you need in a glass or porcelain bowl. Set your microwave to its lowest defrost setting and run it for about 15-20 seconds. After this initial warming, check the butter’s consistency by gently pressing it with a rubber spatula or your finger. It should yield easily and leave a noticeable indentation without being melted, shiny, or greasy. If it’s still too firm, continue heating in very short 5-10 second increments, watching it extremely closely. Butter can go from perfectly softened to melted very quickly, and using melted butter will adversely affect the structure and texture of your cookies, leading to a flatter, tougher result.
Is Chilling Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Necessary?
For this specific Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, chilling the dough is not strictly necessary because the carefully balanced proportions of ingredients ensure a great consistency right after mixing. This means you can bake them immediately if you’re eager to enjoy a fresh batch! However, chilling the dough is always an option if you prefer to prepare it ahead of time, perhaps for a party, or if you want to bake fresh cookies over several days. If you do choose to chill the dough, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, allow the chilled dough to sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to soften slightly. This makes it easier to scoop and helps ensure even spreading during baking, preventing cookies from being too thick or not spreading enough. For longer storage, see our freezing tips below!
How Long Do Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Stay Fresh?
These delightful Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are at their peak freshness and best enjoyed within 4-5 days of baking. To keep them as fresh, soft, and delicious as possible, it is crucial to store them properly. Place your cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. A little trick to help maintain their softness and moisture for longer is to place a slice of plain white bread in the container with your cookies; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread. Avoid refrigerating baked cookies unless specifically instructed by a recipe, as the cold can sometimes dry them out or significantly alter their desirable soft and chewy texture.
Can You Freeze Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies?
Yes, absolutely! Freezing is an excellent way to extend the shelf life of your delicious Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies, allowing you to enjoy homemade treats whenever a craving strikes without having to bake a whole new batch from scratch. You can freeze both baked cookies and raw cookie dough:
- To Freeze Baked Cookies: Once your cookies have completely cooled to room temperature, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about 1-2 hours, or until they are completely solid. This “flash freezing” step is important as it prevents the cookies from sticking together when stored in bulk. After they are frozen solid, transfer the cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty Ziploc bag. They will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to 6 months without losing flavor or quality. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, or for a warm, fresh-from-the-oven feel, pop them into the microwave for a few seconds or a preheated oven (around 275°F/135°C) for 5-10 minutes.
- To Freeze Cookie Dough: Freezing raw cookie dough is a fantastic and convenient option for having warm, fresh cookies on demand whenever you like. First, scoop the dough into individual balls using your cookie scoop, just as you would for baking. Place these dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching. Freeze for about an hour until the dough balls are firm and solid. Once firm, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a large freezer-friendly Ziploc bag. The frozen dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, there’s no need to thaw the dough; simply place the frozen dough balls directly onto a prepared baking sheet and bake as directed in the recipe. You may need to add an extra 1-3 minutes to the baking time to compensate for their frozen state. This method allows you to bake just one or two cookies at a time, ensuring you always have a fresh, warm treat at your fingertips!
Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, preparing a simple weeknight treat, or sharing your creations with loved ones, these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delightful and unique choice. Their exquisite blend of sweet cherry and rich chocolate creates a memorable flavor experience that’s sure to earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection. Embrace the joy of homemade baking and get ready to impress with these irresistible cookies. Happy baking!
More Delicious Fruity Cookie Recipes to Try:
- Blackberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Raspberry Meltaway Cookies
- Blueberry Cream Cookies
- Cherry Cheesecake Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Apple Pie Cookie Cups
- Fresh Strawberries Cookie Cups
- Frosted Blueberry Cookies
- Cherry Chocolate Chip No Bake Cookies
- Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cherry Chocolate Cookies
- Blueberry Banana Cookies
- Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
My second oldest daughter, P, truly is my little reader, a passion that fills me with immense joy. My personal love for books made me hope that at least one of my children would share this affection, and P has exceeded all expectations. While all four of my kids have grown into wonderful readers, P is exceptional – she always has a book in hand! Whether she’s trying to sneak a peek under the dinner table, insists on bringing a book for even a three-minute car ride, or is constantly seeking out long, multi-volume series, her dedication to reading is both inspiring and endearing. It’s moments like these, perhaps curled up with a captivating story and a warm, homemade Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie, that truly make a home feel cozy and rich with simple joys. I absolutely adore her boundless passion for literature and the quiet magic she finds within the pages of a book!
