Get ready to fall in love with maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies, a delightful treat that combines the gooey richness of chocolate chips with the bright, fruity punch of maraschino cherries. This cookie recipe is an irresistible blend of chewy, sweet, and slightly tangy that simply melts in your mouth with every bite. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just because, maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies are sure to become a new favorite in your dessert rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unique Flavor Pairing: The juicy maraschino cherries add a vibrant twist to classic chocolate chip cookies.
- Perfect Texture: Soft and chewy cookies with just the right amount of crisp edges.
- Quick and Simple: Uses pantry staples and comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Visually Stunning: Bright red cherries make every cookie look like a festive delight.
- Customizable: Easy to tweak with nuts, extracts, or alternative chips for every taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting the perfect maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies starts with simple, high-quality ingredients. Each one contributes to the delightful balance of flavor, texture, and appearance that makes these cookies stand out in the best way possible.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy yet tender structure for chewy cookies.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough for a light texture.
- Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances flavors.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth feeling.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps cookies crisp slightly on the edges.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and depth with its caramel notes.
- Eggs: Bind ingredients while contributing to cookie softness.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warm, aromatic undertones that complement the cherries and chocolate.
- Maraschino cherries: Chopped into pieces to disperse bursts of bright flavor throughout the cookies.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The classic accompaniment, offering gooey melting pockets of chocolate.
Variations for maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies
Feel free to make these cookies your own! This recipe is delightfully flexible, perfect for adapting based on dietary preferences or your pantry goodies.
- Add Nuts: Stir in chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and flavor.
- Use White Chocolate Chips: Swap semi-sweet for white chocolate for a creamier sweetness.
- Gluten-Free Version: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to keep the chew without gluten.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of butter and enjoy equally delicious results.
- Extra Citrus Zest: Add a teaspoon of orange or lemon zest for a fresh twist on the cherry flavor.
How to Make maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This evenly distributes the leavening and seasoning.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
Using a stand or hand mixer, beat together softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy—this step creates the perfect cookie texture.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. These provide moisture and flavor, binding the dough smoothly.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so keep it gentle.
Step 6: Fold in Maraschino Cherries and Chocolate Chips
Chop the maraschino cherries into bite-sized pieces and fold them in with the chocolate chips, ensuring every cookie will have bursts of juicy cherry and melty chocolate.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden and centers look set but soft.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them firm up without losing softness inside.
Pro Tips for Making maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies
- Drain the cherries well: Excess liquid from maraschino cherries can make the dough too wet, so pat them dry before chopping.
- Room temperature ingredients: Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for smooth mixing and uniform texture.
- Don’t overmix: Mix until combined to keep cookies tender, avoiding dense or tough results.
- Chill the dough (optional): Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky, which also helps the cookies hold shape while baking.
- Use parchment or silicone mats: Prevent sticking and help cookies bake evenly without burning underneath.
How to Serve maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies
Garnishes
Serve with a lightly dusted powdered sugar topping or drizzle melted white chocolate over the cookies for extra sweetness and beautiful presentation.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a tall glass of cold milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea to complement the rich flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
Place cookies in a decorative tin layered with parchment paper for gifting, or stack them alongside vibrant fresh cherries and chocolate pieces on a dessert platter for parties.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain softness and flavor.
Freezing
Freeze dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a sealed bag or container for up to 3 months—bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating
Warm cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes to bring back that fresh-baked texture and melty chocolate.
FAQs
Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino cherries?
Fresh cherries have higher moisture content and less sugar, so they may make the dough wetter and the flavor less intense; maraschino cherries offer that perfect sweet, tangy burst ideal for this recipe.
Are these cookies gluten-free?
The classic recipe isn’t gluten-free, but you can easily substitute with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend and still enjoy delicious results.
Can I make these cookies vegan?
Yes! Replace butter with vegan butter and use flax eggs or another egg substitute, and choose dairy-free chocolate chips to make a vegan version.
How do I keep the cherries from bleeding color into the cookie dough?
Drain and pat the cherries dry thoroughly before folding them into the dough to reduce bleeding and keep the dough’s color consistent.
What’s the best way to store these cookies for gifting?
Layer cookies with parchment paper in an airtight, decorative tin or box, which keeps them fresh and visually appealing for up to a week.
Final Thoughts
These maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies are a total game-changer—combining the cozy comfort of chocolate chip cookies with the fun, fruity burst of maraschino cherries. Once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without this cheerful twist. Happy baking, and enjoy every scrumptious bite!