Can I make these festive red-and-white holiday cookies with white chocolate?

Absolutely! Swapping semi-sweet chips for white chocolate chips is a popular variation. The creamy white chocolate highlights the almond flavor and makes them look even more festive for Christmas or Valentine's Day.

Are these kid-friendly colorful treats suitable for shipping?

Yes, these cookies travel very well because the cornstarch (if added) and brown sugar keep them soft. Just ensure they are fully cooled before packing them in an airtight container.

How do I make freeze-dried cherry alternative cookies using this base?

If you cannot find maraschino cherries, fold in 1/2 cup of freeze-dried cherries. Note that you may need to add an extra tablespoon of milk or water to the dough since you won't be adding the reserved cherry juice from the jar.

Can I adapt this recipe for dairy-free or vegan cherry chocolate cookies?

Yes. Replace the butter with a vegan butter stick (not tub margarine) and replace the egg with a commercial egg replacer or a flax egg. Double-check that your chocolate chips and cherries are vegan-certified.

What makes these considered soft-batch cherry chip cookies?

The combination of brown sugar, an extra egg yolk, and cornstarch (optional but recommended) ensures the texture stays soft and chewy rather than crisp and hard.

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies: 5 Irresistible Tips

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies: Easy, Chewy & Irresistible

These chewy Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ultimate festive treat. Packed with chopped cherries, almond extract, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, they are soft, easy to make, and perfect for Valentine’s Day or Christmas cookie exchanges.

Author: Hana Martin
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 85
Yield: 24 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/4 cups (280g) All-purpose flour

1 tsp Baking soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 cup (113g) Unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup (100g) Granulated sugar

3/4 cup (150g) Light brown sugar, packed

1 large Egg

1 large Egg yolk

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp Almond extract

1 cup (170g) Semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup (120g) Maraschino cherries, drained, dried, and chopped

2 tbsp Reserved maraschino cherry juice

Instructions

1. Prep the Cherries: Drain cherries, reserve 2 tbsp juice, chop, and pat strictly dry with paper towels.

2. Whisk Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

3. Cream Butter: Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy (2-3 mins).

4. Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in egg, yolk, vanilla, almond extract, and reserved juice.

5. Combine: Gradually add dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

6. Fold: Gently fold in chocolate chips and dried cherries.

7. Chill: Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.

8. Preheat: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line sheets with parchment.

9. Bake: Scoop dough (2 tbsp) 2 inches apart. Bake 9-11 mins.

10. Cool: Cool on sheet 5 mins, then transfer to wire rack.

Notes

Drying the cherries is critical to prevent soggy cookies.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and a flax egg.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 185
Sugar: 16
Sodium: 85
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 5
Unsaturated Fat: 3
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 26
Fiber: 1
Protein: 2
Cholesterol: 25

Keywords: Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies, cherry cookies, holiday cookies

Find it online: https://www.hanaeats.com/maraschino-cherry-chocolate-chip-cookies/