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These maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies always bring the wow factor to any gathering or special occasion. What’s even better? They take just 10 minutes to prep and have a perfect pink color for a beautiful display.

These cookies are SO GOOD! I used cherry juice instead of almond extract and mini white chocolate chips, and made them extra big- 12 cookies a batch. Definitely making these again, boyfriend was obsessed too!

-Jenna
pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet with cherries and chocolate chips
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Cherry Cookies

I believe I have mentioned this before, whenever it’s one of my nieces or nephews birthdays, they get to pick what kind of cookie I make and mail to them. Pretty lucky, huh?!

Well one of my nieces doesn’t like chocolate… I know, I don’t understand – I live off chocolate. So I was giving her a few options of cookies I could make and one of the options was maraschino cherry cookies.

I got to work and made five test batches! Some of the batches were pretty funny looking – working with an add in like maraschino cherries can be hard because they have so much moisture. But I finally got the recipe just right!

The ones I mailed her didn’t have chocolate chips so you can definitely make these cherry cookies without the chips, but for us chocolate lovers, more chocolate the better!

pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet with cherries and chocolate chips

The combination of maraschino cherries and chocolate chips reminds me of this delicious cherry cordial ice cream that the ice cream shop near our house has. I love the taste of cherry ice cream, especially if there’s chocolate!

The cherry flavor is on point. These pink cookies would also be fun for baby showers – especially for a baby girl!

We’ve also add these cookies to our cookie trays during the holidays. And we love gifting this easy recipe for valentine’s day.

pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet with cherries and chocolate chips

Ingredients for Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions for making Cherry Cookies.

  • unsalted butter – Let the butter come to room temperature.
  • brown sugar – I recommend using light brown sugar for this recipe.
  • large egg
  • vanilla extract
  • almond extract
  • pink gel food coloring – I recommend AmeriColor brand.
  • all purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • maraschino cherries – Well drained & finely chopped.
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips – You can substitute or dark, milk or white chocolate chips.

I love the flavor the 1/8 teaspoon almond extract adds to this cookie recipe. Cherry-almond cookies were a match made in heaven!

How to Make Cherry Cookies

  1. In a large bowl beat the softened butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer for 1 minute, or until combined.
  1. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again.
  1. Gel food coloring. Add in a small amount of pink gel food coloring and mix.
  2. Add dry ingredients. In separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing by hand with a spatula.
  1. Add-ins. Add in the finely chopped cherries and chocolate chips, mix by hand until combined. The batter will be thick.
  1. Scoop. Use a cookie scoop to drop dough balls onto a silicone lined baking sheet or parchment paper. Press additional cherries and chocolate chips into the outside of the dough balls.
  2. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Be sure not to over bake or the cookies will loose their pink color and turn brown.
  3. Cool. Allow the cookies to cool to the touch on the baking sheet (about 15 minutes) then move them to a wire rack.
pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet before baking

For the cherry chocolate cookies in the photos, the dough balls were about 3 heaping tablespoons, so that’s a large cookie!

I baked those for 14-16 minutes – just until the edge of the cookie would begin to turn golden. The result is a soft and chewy cherry chocolate chip cookie!

If you make smaller dough balls, you should reduce the baking time otherwise the cookies will be over done.

Time Required for Chocolate Cherry Cookies

  • 10 minutes to make the cookie dough
  • 14-16 minutes to bake the cookies
  • 15 minutes to cool the cookies
pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet with cherries and chocolate chips

Gluten Free Cherry Cookies

I have made these cookies multiple times with King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour with great success.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Tips

Here are some tips and hints for perfect cherry cookies.

Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.

You need 3/4 cup chopped & drained maraschino cherries. Plus an extra 2 tablespoons or so for garnish. 3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries is about half a 16 oz jar.

Be sure to drain the cherries well. Once you drained off the juice, put the cherries on a few paper towels and let the extra maraschino cherry juice soak up.

Once the cherries have been drained, finely chop them.

If you want the tops of your cookies to look loaded with cherries & chocolate chips like the ones you see in the photos, be sure to add additional cherries and chocolate chips to the outside of the dough balls before baking the cookies.

pink maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies on baking sheet with cherries and chocolate chips

Can you freeze maraschino cherry cookies?

Maraschino cherry cookies freeze beautifully! Wrap them in individual portions with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container or freezer bag with parchment between the layers to keep them from sticking.

Freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

In the mood for more sweets? Learn how to add crumb topping to any muffin or try chocolate pudding pie!

More Recipes From The First Year

cherry cookies with chocolate chips and pink food coloring
4.18 from 959 ratings

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Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

By: Beth
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies
These maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies always bring the wow factor to any gathering or special occasion. What’s even better? They take just 10 minutes to prep and have a perfect pink color for a beautiful display.

Ingredients 

  • ½ stick unsalted butter, softened, 1/4 cup
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • tsp almond extract
  • Small amount of pink gel food coloring
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 180 grams, properly measured
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup drained & finely chopped maraschino cherries, plus extra for garnish
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus extra for garnish

Instructions 

  • It's critical that you measure the flour accurately. Unknowingly adding too much flour will result in dry cookies.
    The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams. 
    If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method. 
    Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour, but not the same as sifting it. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically calls for it. Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour. Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.
  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • In a mixing bowl beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer for 1 minute, or until combined. Add in the egg and extracts, beat again.
  • Add in a small amount of pink gel food coloring and mix.
  • In separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing by hand with a spatula.
  • Add in the finely chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips, mix by hand until combined. The batter will be thick.
  • Use a cookie scoop to drop dough balls onto a silicone lined baking sheet. Press additional cherries and chocolate chips into the outside of the dough balls.
  • Bake for 14-16 minutes – be sure not to over bake or the cookies will loose their pink color and turn brown.
  • Allow the cookies to cool to the touch on the baking sheet (about 15 minutes) then move them to a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

I recommend using pink gel food coloring. Gel food coloring in very pigmented, meaning a little goes a long way. Using liquid food coloring in the dropper bottles will not result in the same bright pink color. 
This recipe turned out great using gluten free flour too! We love King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Beth

I believe that everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring to parties! With hundreds of recipes, I'll help you find yours!

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Recipe Rating




203 Comments

  1. 2 stars
    These weren’t too bad but I wish they’d been sweeter and they came out pretty cakey. Not sure how or why they came out that way.

    I might make them again and add some sugar and Google why a cookie would come out almost fluffy. I would add more almond extract too as well as more chocolate chips lol

  2. 3 stars
    Made them twice. Ain’t no way 1/2 stick of butter and the other wet ingredients provide enough moisture – dough is dry and won’t stick together. The second time I used a bit over 1 stick of butter and they were great.

    1. Be sure to properly measure the flour using the spoon, scoop and level method to prevent adding too much flour.

  3. 5 stars
    These turned out wonderful, no problems with the recipe .  Including in my Christmas tins and going to make an additional batch.  Used the small scoop♥️. Thank you❣️

  4. I was so excited to make these for Christmas and followed the recipe exactly. The almond extract came out a little fast so maybe a little more there but not much. A little cherry juice as well. They did not spread out like a normal cookie. They are basically dry balls of cake. They are brown after 13 min. I did only have regular food dye but was hoping i could take them out before they turned brown, i think the brown sugar can only be offset by your gel food coloring. I can’t explain how badly they turned out its really frustrating to throw out a whole batch the night before Christmas. My sister asked for these, so disappointed. Cookies are more difficult than one would think.

    1. Hi Sara! How did you measure the flour?

      How to Properly Measure Flour
      The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams.
      If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method.
      • Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour, but not the same as sifting it. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically calls for it.
      • Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour.
      • Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.

  5. Thanks so much for addressing GF so often! I have a daughter that is sugar free and we’ve used your recipes and subbed the sugar with monk fruit and it works great!

  6. 2 stars
    There is something terribly wrong with the measurements or instructions in this recipe. The cookies do not melt down while baking. As a person who previously worked as a professional baker, I am quite sure I followed the recipe, and know how to measure correctly. They Still tasted Ok but didn’t melt down as expected. Perhaps chilling the dough may have helped.