Add a twist to your holiday baking with these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. The delicious combination of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered cherries is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.
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Each year we make a list of cookies that we want to bake during the holidays. These peppermint Oreo cookies and these Christmas kiss cookies are always on the list.
One of my favorite things to get each Christmas is a box of chocolate covered cherries. Chocolate and cherry is a classic flavor combo, so I decided to add it to an oatmeal cookie that topped our cookie list this year.
Why You Will Love Cherry Chip Cookies
Turn a classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie into a cherry chip cookie by adding a jar of maraschino cherries. The fruit adds a pop of color and a sweet flavor to the cookies.
- The dough is easy to make in one bowl.
- You can bake the cookies right away. No chilling required.
- Great cookie recipe for the holidays.
- Soft and chewy and loaded with cherry chocolate goodness.
If you love Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, you will love this cherry cookie recipe.
Key Ingredients Needed
These cherry cookies contain your basic baking ingredients, plus a few primary ingredients.
- Sugars - You will use both granulated and brown sugar in this cherry cookie.
- Maraschino Cherries - A large jar with give you plenty of cherry pieces in each cookie. Skip the jar with the stems.
- Quick Oats - Adds texture to the cookies. Old fashioned oats can also be used, but the cookies will have a coarser texture.
- Chocolate Chips - I prefer dark chocolate chips in this recipe. You can also use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Flour - Properly measured flour is key to the right texture in these cookies.
- Almond Extract - You only need a little bit to enhance the cherry flavor throughout the cookie.
How to Make Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cherry cookies loaded with maraschino cherries and chocolate are so easy to make. The dough comes together in minutes with just one bowl.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl beat the softened butter and sugars until light and creamy. Add the egg and cherry juice and beat again.
- Add the dry ingredients. Stir together the dry ingredients and slowly mix all of it into the butter mixture.
- Add mix-ins. Stir the diced maraschino cherries and chocolate chips into the batter gently using a rubber spatula.
- Scoop and bake. Roll the cookie dough into 36 even balls and place on a sheet pan lined with a Silpat. Bake until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack before storing.
Storage
To Store - Keep them in an air tight container on the counter for 5-6 days. Make sure the cookies are room temperature before placing them in the container.
To Freeze - Wrap each cookie in plastic or place the cooled cookies between layers of parchment paper. Place the wrapped cookies in a freezer bag in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Drain the maraschino cherries very well, so you do not add any extra liquid to the dough.
- Allow the drained cherries to rest on paper towels to absorb the extra juice. Do this before and after dicing them.
- For bakery style cookies, add a few extra chocolate chips to the tops of the warm cookies after baking them.
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to easily portion out the cherry cookie dough.
- You can add ½ cup chopped nuts to the dough to give an added crunch to the finished cookies. Pistachios, walnut, pecans, or almonds would all be delicious.
- To give the cookies a festive pink or red color, add a drop of red food coloring to the dough. This is a fun option for Christmas or Valentine's Day.
- Serve the cherry drop cookies with milk or a dark chocolate latte.
Recipe FAQs
This is a cherry that has been preserved and stored in a jar of red syrup. It is commonly used as a garnish to cocktails or milkshakes. You can purchase them by ice cream sundae toppings with or without stems.
Yes! Prepare the dough as instructed. Scoop the prepared dough onto parchment paper and freeze the cherry chip dough balls for 60 minutes.
Then place the dough balls in a ziplock bag and freeze to store. Bake them while still frozen for about 2 minutes longer.
You sure can. The cookies will just have a slightly chewier texture from the dried fruit.
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Recipe
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Add a twist to your holiday baking with these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. The delicious combination of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered cherries is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.
Ingredients
- 1 - 16 ounce jar maraschino cherries
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon cherry juice (from reserved juice)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a large sheet pan with a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Drain the jar of maraschino cherries, making sure to save the juice. Rinse the cherries and place on paper towels and pat dry.
- Finely dice the cherries into small pieces. Place on dry paper towels and pat dry again. Set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugars together until creamy. Add the egg, cherry juice, and almond extract and mix again.
- Slowly mix in the salt, cornstarch, baking soda, flour, and oats into the butter mixture until everything is combined.
- Gently stir ¾ cup chocolate chips and cherry pieces in by hand. Use a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to make 24 even dough balls.
- Place 12 cookies at a time on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the hot baking sheet for 2 minutes; gently place them on a sheet of parchment paper. Press a few extra chocolate chips into the top of the hot cookies.
- Let them cool completely, then store in a tightly sealed container on the counter.
Notes
- I like to quarter each cherry, then cut each piece into 2-3 more smaller pieces.
- Drain the maraschino cherries very well, so you do not add any extra liquid to the dough.
- Allow the drained cherries to rest on paper towels to absorb the extra juice. Do this before and after dicing them.
- For bakery style cookies, add a few extra chocolate chips to the tops of the warm cookies after baking them.
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to easily portion out the cherry cookie dough.
- You can add ½ cup chopped nuts to the dough to give an added crunch to the finished cookies. Pistachios, walnut, pecans, or almonds would all be delicious.
- To give the cookies a festive pink or red color, add a drop of red food coloring to the dough. This is a fun option for Christmas or Valentine's Day.
- Serve the cherry drop cookies with milk or a dark chocolate latte.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 204Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 86mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies was first published December 2014. It was updated and republished December 2022.
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Marie
I just made these. I was really concerned as the dough was very stiff. For those that are concerned, fear not. These are delicious cookies and I am adding these to my cookie gifts.
Marie
Can I make these with out chocolate? With just the cherries and nuts?
Jocelyn
Yes, if you want to replace the chocolate chips with nuts, that would work just as well. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Diana
I can’t get instructions for chocolate cherry cookies I get ingredients but it says page not found when I click on link
Jocelyn
Thank you so much for letting me know there was an error. I was able to search and find the recipe and add it to the recipe card. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Dawn
Thanks.I think I will just follow your directions. I have plenty of thick cookies.
Dawn
I was wondering if the dough could be refrigerated before prior to baking?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, you could definitely refrigerate it before baking. Although you might want to roll them in balls first because it is a very stiff dough, and after refrigerating it might be harder to roll them. They also might bake thicker than the pictured ones because of the temperature of the dough. I hope you enjoy them!
Cathy
I love cherry and chocolate together, such a great combo! And in a cookie, even better! All month long I am featuring different holiday cookie creations for my cookie countdown to Christmas! I would love it if you stopped by to check it out! 🙂
Cathy
Rachael @ Cabot Cheese
YUM! Great combo, Can't wait to try these 🙂
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon
I'm with your husband on this one- a thin, chewy cookie is always my favorite!
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking
I'm sure my mom cringed every time I wanted to "help" her bake cookies as a kid... I think my main job was stirring in the chocolate chips and taste testing the batter. She definitely didn't want eggshells in her cookies! 😉 And I love the look of these cookies -- so cheerful and festive! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, such sweet memories! 😉 Thanks Amy!
Johlene @Flavours & Frosting
Can I just say YUMMY! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Johlene! 🙂
Melanie @ Carmel Moments
I totally go cookie crazy in December. Sometimes I think I'm obsessed.
These look oh so perfect!
Jocelyn Brubaker
You and me both! 😉 Thanks Melanie!
Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook
Chocolate covered cherries are my husband's absolute favorite Christmas candy, so these cookies will send him right over the top - thanks for making his day!
Cyndi @ My Kitchen Craze
I'm not sure why December is cookie crazy month, but for me it is. I always make a list too. These look so yummy! Gonna have to add these to my list this year! 🙂 Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks for pinning, Cyndi! 🙂
Karl Lervold
Can I leave the outside out of the recipe?
Jocelyn
Were you wondering about leaving the "oats" out of the recipe? This particular recipe was written with the oats. So, if you leave them out the cookies will not turn out.
Chels+R.
I love these! I bet adding the cherry juice just brings out that deliciously sweet flavor.
Jocelyn Brubaker
It really does! Thanks Chels! 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks
LOVE these! Reminds me of a cookie my grandma used to make around the holidays! Chewy oats & cherries...mmm! Pinned!
Mir
I love puffy cookies too, but I can see the appeal of the other kind! Definitely these look fantastic. I wish holiday cookie season would go on forever!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I do, too! Thanks Mir! 😉
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I definitely go cookie crazy in December, Jocelyn! Christmas is my favorite time of year, especially for baking! These cherry chocolate chip cookies look mouthwatering! I love your creative twist on a classic cookie!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Gayle! 🙂
Richard Moore
what is Challenge Butter?
Jocelyn
Challenge is a brand that makes butter and cream cheese.