If you love the perfect marriage of sweet, tart cherries and rich chocolate chips all nestled inside a chewy, buttery cookie, then you’re in for a real treat with these Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. This recipe brings together classic chocolate chip goodness with the unexpected burst of bright maraschino cherries, creating a deliciously unique twist that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Every bite offers that delightful balance of flavors and textures, making these cookies a standout in any batch you bake.

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients are simple pantry staples combined with cherry sweetness and chocolate indulgence, each playing a vital role in the texture and flavor that make these cookies unforgettable.

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure needed for chewy yet tender cookies, so don’t skip the 2 cups plus a bit extra for perfect consistency.

Baking soda: A little leavening agent goes a long way in helping these cookies rise just enough for soft middles with lightly crisp edges.
Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors, balancing the sweetness and brightening the chocolate and cherry notes.

Salted butter: Adds richness and moisture; using it softened ensures smooth creaming with the sugars.
Brown sugar: Brings a deep, caramel hint that contributes to the chewy texture and complexity of flavor.

Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps with spreading for the perfect shape.
Egg plus egg yolk: Add moisture and fat, making the cookies tender and giving them that wonderful richness.
Vanilla extract: A must-have for warmth and depth of flavor, rounding out the sweetness beautifully.

Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The star chocolate component offering that melty, slightly bittersweet counterpoint to the cherries.
Maraschino cherries: These sweet, bright cherries chopped up add a pop of color and a fun, fruity contrast that makes the cookies truly special.
Flaked salt: Sprinkled on top, it’s the final flourish that elevates every bite with bursts of savory crunch.

How to Make Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Prep and Mix Dry Ingredients

Start by heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. This dry mixture will give your cookies structure and just a little lift.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

Using an electric mixer, beat the softened salted butter with both brown and granulated sugars until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about five minutes. This step is key for that wonderful cookie texture, incorporating air so the cookies aren’t dense.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Next, mix in one whole egg and an extra egg yolk at room temperature to the butter-sugar mixture. The yolk adds richness, making the cookies extra tender. Beat in two teaspoons of vanilla extract to introduce those irresistible warm, sweet notes.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients with Wet

Gradually add your previously whisked dry ingredients into the wet mix, beating just until everything is combined. Overmixing here can make cookies tough, so stop as soon as you see no flour streaks.

Step 5: Fold in Cherries and Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips along with the maraschino cherries that you’ve patted dry and chopped. This is where your Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies start to take their delicious final shape, with pockets of juicy cherries mingling with melted chocolate.

Step 6: Shape and Bake

Scoop or roll the dough into balls roughly 1.5 to 2 tablespoons each and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until they are just set — slightly soft in the center but with edges beginning to get golden. As soon as they come out, sprinkle with flaked salt for that perfect sweet-and-savory finish. Let them cool completely, because these cookies develop their perfect chewiness as they rest.

How to Serve Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Garnishes

For a little extra flair, try topping your cookies with a small drizzle of melted white or dark chocolate, or add a few extra chopped cherries right after baking to accentuate their fruity brightness. A dusting of powdered sugar can also add a pretty, festive touch without overwhelming the flavors.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a tall glass of cold milk, but if you want to get creative, serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. A warm cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or even cherry-flavored tea can highlight the cherry notes and round out your snack or dessert beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re bringing these cookies to a party or gift-giving, arrange them stacked neatly tied with a ribbon or placed in a pretty tin layered with parchment paper. You can also sandwich two cookies together with a cream cheese or cherry-flavored frosting for an indulgent twist that will wow your guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any uneaten Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain their chewy texture. If you prefer a softer cookie, store them with a piece of bread to keep them moist.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully, either baked or as dough balls. If freezing dough, scoop balls onto a parchment-lined tray, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to your baking time. Baked cookies should be wrapped tightly and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Reheating

For fresh-from-the-oven warmth, pop your cookies into a 300-degree oven for about 5 minutes. This gently revives their softness and melts the chocolate slightly, making them taste like they were just baked. Microwave reheating is faster but can sometimes alter texture, so use it sparingly.

FAQs

Can I use fresh or frozen cherries instead of maraschino?

Fresh or frozen cherries can add a fresher flavor but will alter the texture and sweetness since maraschino cherries are preserved in syrup. If using fresh or frozen, consider adjusting the sugar slightly and chop them well to prevent sogginess.

What type of chocolate chips work best?

Semi-sweet chocolate chips provide the perfect balance of sweetness against the tartness of the cherries. However, you can experiment with bittersweet, dark, or even white chocolate chips for different flavor profiles.

Can I make these cookies vegan?

With some ingredient swaps—like plant-based butter, egg replacer, and dairy-free chocolate chips—you can make a vegan version. Keep in mind the texture might vary slightly, but the cherry and chocolate combo will still shine.

Why is it important to pat the maraschino cherries dry?

Patting cherries dry removes excess syrup that can make your cookie dough too wet and alter baking time and texture. It also helps prevent spreading and sogginess, ensuring each cookie holds its shape beautifully.

How do I know when the cookies are done?

Look for edges that are just starting to turn golden while the center looks slightly soft and underbaked. The cookies will firm up as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture.

Final Thoughts

These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are truly a delight to make and share, offering a fun twist on a classic favorite. Their perfect balance of flavors makes each bite special, whether for a cozy night in or a festive gathering. I hope you enjoy baking and savoring them as much as I do—these cookies are definitely destined to become a new favorite in your recipe collection!

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

★★★★★

5.2 from 21 reviews

Author: Mariam

Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Delight in these Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies, a perfect balance of sweet cherries and rich chocolate chips baked into a soft, chewy cookie. The addition of flaked salt on top enhances their flavor, making these treats unforgettable.

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and improve cleanup.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt, ensuring they are evenly combined to help the cookies rise evenly.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the softened salted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, for a tender cookie texture.

Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and egg yolk one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next, then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
Combine Flour Mixture: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, beating just until combined to avoid overmixing which can result in tough cookies.
Fold in Chocolate Chips and Cherries: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped maraschino cherries until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Portion Dough: Using a scoop or your hands, form the dough into balls about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons in size. Place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart to allow space for spreading.
Bake Cookies: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are just set and edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft, creating a chewy texture.
Add Flaked Salt: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle flaked salt on top of each cookie to enhance the sweet and savory flavors.

Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack or serving to let them firm up perfectly.

Notes

Pat maraschino cherries dry to prevent excess moisture from making the cookie dough too wet.
For a different texture, you can chop the chocolate chips into smaller pieces or use chunks of chocolate.

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
For extra flavor, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to enhance the cookie’s texture and taste.
To make cookies gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend in a 1:1 ratio.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert

Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie

Calories: 180 kcal
Sugar: 15 g
Sodium: 110 mg

Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 3 g

Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Fiber: 1 g

Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 35 mg

Keywords: maraschino cherry cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cherry chocolate cookies, sweet cookies, homemade cookies