Three-quarters of a cup of chopped maraschino cherries goes into a brown-sugar cookie dough, drained and patted dry first so their syrup does not make the dough wet.
Semisweet chocolate chunks go in with them. After fifteen minutes in the fridge the dough is scooped, sprinkled with coarse sugar if you like, and baked just until the edges set.
How to Make It
Pans lined
Heat oven to 350°F and line two sheet pans.
Dry mix
Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt.
Creamed
Beat the butter and both sugars until creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
Cherries and chunks folded in
Mix in the dry ingredients, then fold in the well-dried cherries and chocolate chunks.
Chilled and scooped
Chill the dough 15 minutes, then scoop 18 cookies onto the pans. Sprinkle lightly with coarse sugar if using.
Baked
Bake 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set and the centres remain soft. Cool on the pans 5 minutes.
Are the Cherries Dry Enough?
Syrupy cherries are the only real risk in this dough.
Press a chopped cherry piece onto a paper towel. What do you see?
Only a faint pink mark
Fold them into the dough.
A wet red spot
Spread them out on fresh towels and pat again.
Extra syrup makes the dough runny and the cookies spread.
Ingredient Notes
- Maraschino cherries
- Three-quarters of a cup, chopped, drained and patted dry.
- Semisweet chocolate chunks
- Three-quarters of a cup, folded in with the cherries.
- Coarse sugar
- Two tablespoons, optional, sprinkled on before baking.
Success Tips
- Spread the chopped cherries on paper towels for a few minutes and press gently.
- Fold the cherries in last and briefly so the dough stays pale.
- Pull the cookies when the centres still look slightly underdone.
Why This Recipe Works
- Drying the cherries keeps the dough from turning pink and runny.
- More brown sugar than white keeps the centres soft.
- A short chill stops the cookies from spreading too far.
- Coarse sugar on top gives the sparkle.
Serving Ideas
Arrange on a plate with the red cherry pieces facing up.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chocolate part of these cookies?
Yes. Semisweet chocolate chunks go in with the cherries.
Why dry the cherries?
Their syrup adds moisture that makes the dough wet and the cookies spread.
