Chocolate Cherry Cookies are a holiday staple and some of the best cookies for a year round favorite! They’re easy to make but absolutely stunning on a holiday cookie tray! Enjoy!
Chocolate and cherries are made for each other. Really! I think they are! And when you add that delicious cherry fudge drizzle? So yummy!
I love these cherry chocolate cookies because they are so beautiful! They stand out from the crowd!
I also love chocolate covered cherry cookies because it’s double chocolate! Chocolate, cherry, and more chocolate. Who can say no to that?
These chocolate cherry blossom cookies are a break from the standard thumbprint cookies that you’re used to seeing!
The chocolate and cherry combo is also really great for Valentine’s Day!
And don’t worry! The cherry chocolate cookie is actually really easy to bake and master. So let’s get cooking!
What Ingredients are in Chocolate Cherry Cookies?
Chewy chocolate cookies are a chocolate lovers delight when made with a sweet cherry in the center of each cookie!
- Butter: Softened butter will blend easier in your electric mixer.
- Sugar: White sugar will give your cookies the correct texture and flavor.
- Egg: The egg is your binder. It’ll hold the cookie dough together.
- Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract from the grocery store for best flavor.
- Flour: All purpose flour gives your cookies the structure they need.
- Cocoa Powder: High quality cocoa makes a big difference in your cookie outcome.
- Salt: If you’re new to baking, you need to know that almost all sweets need salt too for flavor.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder: You need both to get the right amount of rise and structure.
- Maraschino Cherries: You need both the cherry juice and the cherries themselves so don’t drain it.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This you’ll use to make that fudgy chocolate topping.
- Chocolate Chips: Semisweet chocolate chips I find make the best chocolate drizzle.
Pro Tips:
- I haven’t tried with fresh cherries so if you do, be sure to remove the pit and stem and please let me know how it turns out.
- To make the chocolate drizzle stand out, try using white chocolate chips instead.
How to Make Chocolate Cherry Cookies
This is the perfect cookie and a great addition to your delicious chocolate cookie list!
- Beat: Cream butter and sugar together until it looks light and fluffy. This could take a few minutes.
- Add: Slowly, one ingredient at a time, add in everything else up to the cherries.
- Place: Press your finger into each cookie dough ball and then place your cherry on top.
- Cook: While the cookies bake in the preheated oven, melt chocolate chips with milk and cherry juice.
- Serve: Maraschino chocolate cherry cookies can be eaten now or saved for later!
Pro Tips:
- Press lightly with your finger for best results. You want the cherry to stand out, not be inside the cookie.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, simply spoon the chocolate over each cookie.
- Use a silicone mat or parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking to the cookie sheet.
- The rich chocolate ganache should be drizzled on as soon as the cookies come out of the oven.
Can You Eat Chocolate Cookie Dough?
It’s not the cocoa you should worry about eating in raw chewy chocolate cherry cookies but the egg and flour.
While most people are aware that eggs can harbor dangerous bacteria, they may not realize flour does too.
Flour is uncooked and untreated, so it too can lead to food poisoning.
I’m no judge because I’ve definitely taken a bite of raw cookie dough. But if you want to stay on the safe side, be sure to cook it first.
Can You Freeze Chocolate Cherry Cookies?
Yes! You can easily freeze cooked double chocolate cherry cookies to preserve them for later.
- Flash freeze cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet by freezing for 1 hour before placing them in a freezer safe container.
- Write “Chocolate Cherry Cookies” and the date on your container so they don’t get lost.
- To thaw, remove from the freezer and thaw in a single layer again so the chocolate does not stick to the other cookies.
Frozen cookies can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.
Can You Make Chocolate Cherry Cookies Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can make maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies ahead of time and freeze them, like above, or keep them out too.
Make sure to always keep fudgy cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and yummy.
If you keep them on the counter they should last about 4 days.
Kept in the fridge, it’s best to consume them within 7 days.
Can Dogs Eat Chocolate Cookies?
The simple answer to that is no. Dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate cookies.
Chocolate will, in the best cases, cause stomach upset.
In the worst cases, chocolate can actually be toxic and require an emergency visit to your vet.
So never feed your dog chocolate cookies and be sure to contact your vet if they do eat them.
Can You Freeze Chocolate Cookie Dough?
Yes. I like to freeze the chocolate dough so I can bake them later.
That way I can have soft, warm, fresh from the oven cookies whenever the mood strikes.
- Before adding the cherries, freeze cookie dough in an airtight container or bag.
- Write “Chocolate Cherry Cookies” on the bag and baking directions.
- When ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight and then follow regular directions for baking.
More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love…
- Peanut Butter Caramel Cookies
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
- Starbucks Toffee Doodle Cookie
- Best Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chewy
- No Bake Monster Cookies
- Rice Krispie Cookies
- Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Andes Mint Cookies
- Florentine Cookies
- Soft Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Banana Cookies
- Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Chocolate Cherry Cookies are easy to bake, easier to eat, and make decadent cookies! Enjoy them during the holiday season or whenever the mood strikes!
Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Chocolate Cherry Cookies are a holiday staple and some of the best cookies for a year round favorite! They’re easy to make but absolutely stunning on a holiday cookie tray! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 (10 ounce) jar of maraschino cherries
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Beat butter and sugar together in a bowl.
- Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder and stir until smooth.
- Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls about the size of a walnut (or larger if desired).
- Place on cookie sheet and press thumb into center of each cookie.
- Drain cherries and reserve juice.
- Place cherry in indentation of each cookie ball.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- While cookies are baking, in a saucepan, combine condensed milk and chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
- Stir in 4 teaspoons of cherry juice. Mix until combined.
- Spoon or pipe chocolate over each cookie after they are cooled.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 107Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 55mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Originally Posted: February 6, 2014
Photos & Text Updated: April 4, 2018
Photos & Text Updated: January 31, 2023
vickie
Friday 15th of December 2017
Do you frost cookies while warm or after cooled?
Janelle
Thursday 21st of December 2017
Hi Vickie! I just made these again this week as I was craving them! You wait until the cookies are cooled! I'll make sure to put that in the recipe in case someone else asks! Great question! Thank you so much for your comment!
Benicia
Tuesday 11th of February 2014
These are absolutely wonderful.
Janelle
Tuesday 11th of February 2014
So glad you liked them Benicia! I thought they were incredible and was impressed with how much cherry flavor came out. Thank you for all your support!