Irresistible Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies: Your Quick & Easy Recipe Guide
Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies are a delightful fusion of fruity sweetness and rich chocolate, making them a festive and incredibly simple treat to prepare. These easy no-bake cookies burst with an amazing cherry, almond, and vanilla flavor, offering a homemade indulgence without ever needing to turn on your oven. Perfect for any occasion, from a quick snack to a holiday gathering, their vibrant taste and appealing texture are sure to win hearts.
No-bake cookies have always been a household favorite, celebrated for their convenience and deliciousness. This particular variation, featuring the bright notes of cherry and almond, coupled with the charming addition of tiny chocolate chips, stands out as a personal favorite. The beautiful pale pink hue from the maraschino cherries and the contrast of the mini chocolate chips make them visually appealing, especially as a sweet gesture for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or even during the bustling holiday season.
What Exactly Are No-Bake Cookies?
No-bake cookies represent an ingenious category of dessert that achieves a delightful cookie-like texture and flavor without any oven time. They are typically made by cooking a mixture of sugar, butter, and milk on the stovetop, then stirring in ingredients like oats, peanut butter, cocoa powder, or, in this case, white chocolate chips, coconut, and fruit. The mixture then cools and sets, creating a wonderfully chewy and often fudgy cookie.
While many no-bake cookie recipes exist, our Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies truly deliver an exceptional taste experience. The inclusion of white chocolate chips provides an incredible depth of flavor that complements the fruit and nut profiles beautifully. Meanwhile, the combination of quick oats and shredded coconut contributes to a perfectly balanced and appealing texture that’s both satisfyingly chewy and slightly crumbly.
Essential Ingredients for Your Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies
Essential Ingredients for Your Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake CookiesCrafting these amazing Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies requires a few key ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving their signature flavor and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:
- Butter: For the best results, use real butter, not margarine. Salted butter is often preferred as it subtly enhances the overall flavor of the cookies. You’ll need 2 sticks, which equals 1 cup.
- Granulated Sugar: A foundational ingredient, 2 cups of regular granulated sugar provide the essential sweetness and structure for the cookies.
- Milk: While almond milk is a great choice for a subtle nutty undertone, any type of milk will work perfectly in this recipe. Just 1/2 cup is needed to create the base mixture.
- Shredded Coconut: Whether you opt for sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut, 3/4 cup will add fantastic texture and a tropical hint. Adjust based on your preferred level of sweetness.
- White Chocolate Chips: The quality of your white chocolate significantly impacts the final taste. We recommend using 1 cup of Ghirardelli White Chocolate melting disks or high-quality white chocolate chips for a rich, smooth, and creamy texture when melted.
- Slivered Almonds: Half a cup of slivered almonds provides a wonderful crunch and a delicate nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the cherry and chocolate. A standard 2.25oz bag often contains the exact amount needed.
- Quick Oats: This is a crucial ingredient for the proper texture and setting of your no-bake cookies. Quick oats, not old-fashioned oats, are essential for achieving the desired consistency. You’ll need 3 cups.
- Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract: These extracts are flavor powerhouses. 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract combine to create a deeply aromatic and complementary flavor profile that elevates the cherry and chocolate.
- Maraschino Cherries: Half a cup of chopped maraschino cherries is not just for flavor; they also impart a lovely pale pink color, making these cookies extra charming and visually appealing.
- Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These are the perfect finishing touch! You’ll use 1/2 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, sprinkling about 6-7 chips on top of each cookie for a burst of classic chocolate flavor and a cute aesthetic.
Step-by-Step: How to Make These Easy Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies
Making these easy no-bake cookies is a straightforward process that yields incredibly delicious results. Follow these simple steps for perfect treats every time:
- Prepare Your Cookie Sheets: Begin by lining two cookie sheets with wax paper or parchment paper. This crucial step prevents sticking and makes for easy removal of your finished cookies.
- Start the Base Mixture: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the butter, granulated sugar, and milk. Place the pan over medium heat.
- Achieve a Rolling Boil: Bring the mixture to a full, rolling boil. A rolling boil is when the mixture is bubbling vigorously and continuously, even when stirred. Once it reaches this point, allow it to boil for exactly 1 minute. This precise boiling time is critical for the cookies to set properly.
- Melt the White Chocolate: After exactly one minute of boiling, remove the pan from the heat. Immediately stir in the white chocolate chips. Let them sit for about a minute to soften in the hot mixture, then gently stir until the white chocolate is nearly smooth and fully incorporated. A few small lumps are acceptable as they will melt into the mixture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients and Extracts: Next, add the shredded coconut, slivered almonds, quick oats, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the pan. Stir everything thoroughly until all the dry ingredients are fully moistened and evenly combined with the chocolate-sugar mixture.
- Fold in Cherries and Cool Slightly: Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries. Be careful not to overmix, as you want the cherries to retain some of their texture and color. Let the mixture cool in the pan for approximately 10 minutes. This cooling period helps the cookies firm up slightly before scooping.
- Scoop and Garnish: Using a spoon or a small cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheets. Immediately top each cookie with about 6-7 mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Set and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool completely at room temperature until they are set and firm. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes, but can be quicker in a cooler environment. Once set, enjoy your delightful Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies!
Troubleshooting: What to Do When Your No-Bake Cookies Won’t Set
It can be frustrating when your no-bake cookies don’t firm up as expected, but this is a common issue with easy solutions. The most critical factor for setting is the boiling time of the butter, sugar, and milk mixture. Ensuring it boils for a full minute at a rolling boil is essential. If your cookies remain too soft, don’t despair!
A simple trick is to place your cookies in the refrigerator or freezer. This will significantly speed up their firming process. The colder temperatures help the butter and chocolate solidify, giving your cookies the desired firm texture. While chilling helps salvage soft cookies, the best preventative measure is to accurately time the rolling boil during the initial cooking phase.
Quick Oats vs. Old Fashioned Oats: Which is Best for No-Bakes?
When it comes to no-bake cookies, the type of oats you use makes a significant difference, especially for this Cherry Chocolate Chip recipe. We highly recommend using quick oats.
Quick oats are thinner and more finely cut than old-fashioned (rolled) oats. This allows them to absorb the liquid mixture more efficiently and quickly, resulting in a cohesive, chewy, and perfectly set cookie. If you use old-fashioned oats, which are larger and thicker, the cookie’s texture will likely be drier, more crumbly, and may not set properly. Since oats are a primary structural ingredient in these no-bake cookies, choosing quick oats is crucial for achieving the ideal consistency and ensuring your cookies don’t just taste great but also hold their shape beautifully.
Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Salted Butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 3/4 cup shredded Coconut
- 1 cup White Chocolate Chips I use Ghirardelli White Chocolate melting wafers
- 1/2 cup Slivered almonds
- 3 cups Quick Oats
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
- 1/2 cup Maraschino Cherries
- 1/2 cup Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Instructions
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First, prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining them with wax paper or parchment paper.
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Next, combine the butter, sugar and milk in a pan. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and let it boil for 1 minute.
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The boil should remain even when stirring. After a minute, remove the pan from heat and stir in the white chocolate chips. Let sit a minute, then stir gently until the mixture is nearly smooth.
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Then, add the coconut, almond, oats and extracts. Stir everything until it’s all thoroughly combined.
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Add cherries and stir gently. Let cool about 10 minutes.
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Scoop mixture in balls onto the cookie sheet. Top with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 6-7 per cookie. Let cool to set. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Storing Your No-Bake Cookies: Refrigeration, Freezing, and Longevity
One of the great things about no-bake cookies is their versatility in storage. Yes, these cookies can absolutely be frozen! Freezing helps them firm up beautifully, and many people, including myself, find that they taste even better when chilled or frozen, especially during warmer months. They’re perfect to grab straight from the freezer for a cool, satisfying treat – though in my experience, they rarely last long enough to make it into long-term freezer storage!
When it comes to daily storage, no-bake cookies benefit significantly from refrigeration. Placing them in the fridge helps the cookies maintain a firmer shape and extends their freshness. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they will remain delicious for a longer period. While refrigeration is recommended for optimal texture and extended shelf life, these cookies don’t strictly require it. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, though they might be slightly softer.
For those who enjoy a firmer cookie, refrigeration is your best friend. The chilling process accelerates the setting time, making them ready to enjoy much faster. Even if you prefer the taste and texture of these cookies at room temperature, chilling them initially to set them and then allowing them to warm up slightly before serving can provide the best of both worlds. They are equally delightful enjoyed cold directly from the fridge!
Pro Tips for No-Bake Cookie Success
Achieving perfect no-bake cookies every time is easy with a few simple tips:
- Preventing Stickiness: To avoid your cookies sticking to the pan, always use wax paper or parchment paper. While aluminum foil can be used, it sometimes causes sticking even with non-stick spray. Wax paper or parchment paper offers a consistently reliable, hassle-free release.
- The Critical Boil Time: The single most important factor for perfectly set no-bake cookies is bringing the butter, sugar, and milk mixture to a full, rolling boil and letting it boil for exactly one minute. This precise cooking time allows the sugar to reach the correct consistency to bind all the ingredients without becoming too hard or remaining too soft.
- Choosing the Right Oats: As previously emphasized, quick oats are the champions for this recipe. Their finer texture ensures optimal absorption and a superior, consistent cookie structure.
More Delicious Cookie Recipes to Explore
If you love chocolate or oatmeal cookies, or simply enjoy quick and easy treats, be sure to try some of these other tasty recipes:
- REESE’S CHOCOLATE COOKIE CUPS
- DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES
- CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CAKE MIX COOKIES
- MARSHMALLOW PEANUT BUTTER NO-BAKE COOKIES
- PEANUT BUTTER UNBAKED COOKIES
- MICROWAVE OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
- OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
These Cherry Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies are a testament to how simple ingredients and minimal effort can create something truly special. We love sharing these delightful treats, and they always bring back fond memories. Recently, we even had a quick Christmas trip North to see my mom, who was visiting from Alaska, escaping the cold! It wasn’t exactly warm where we were, but any getaway is fun. Making these cookies during such family times adds an extra layer of sweetness and joy. We hope you and your loved ones enjoy this easy, fruity, and undeniably delicious recipe as much as we do!
We were able to do a quick trip North over Christmas break to see my mom, who was traveling from Alaska! She had to get out of the cold. I don’t blame her.
It still wasn’t warm where we were, but it was still fun to get away for a few days. Anyone else SO READY to take a vacation?! PS: Can you spot all 7 of us in the photo?!
