Description

Delight in these rich Chocolate Cherry Cookies, featuring a tender cocoa-infused dough topped with luscious maraschino cherries dipped in silky chocolate ganache and finished with a decorative chocolate drizzle. Perfect for any occasion, these cookies combine the fruity sweetness of cherries with deep chocolate flavors for an indulgent treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs room temperature
2 Tablespoons Maraschino Cherry juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate & Topping

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon shortening or coconut oil
10 ounce jar Maraschino Cherries without stems

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Instructions

Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the proper temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and baking powder until thoroughly combined.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs, Maraschino cherry juice, and vanilla extract on medium speed until well incorporated.
Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in thirds, mixing well after each addition until the dough is fully combined.
Shape Cookies: Use a cookie scoop to portion out golf ball-sized dough portions. Roll each into a smooth ball and place them 2 to 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Create Indentation: Use your thumb to gently press a slight indentation into the center of each dough ball to hold the ganache later.
Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until they have spread slightly and feel firm to touch.
Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make Ganache: Place ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a small bowl. Heat the heavy cream in the microwave for about 20 seconds until hot. Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let it sit for one minute, then stir vigorously until smooth.
Fill Indentations: Spoon about ½ teaspoon of the ganache into the center of each cooled cookie, spreading it evenly in the indentation. Press one Maraschino cherry gently into the ganache on each cookie.
Prepare Chocolate Drizzle: In a small dish, combine the remaining ½ cup chocolate chips with the tablespoon of shortening or coconut oil. Heat for 30 seconds, stir, then heat for an additional 15 seconds or until fully melted and smooth.
Drizzle Cookies: Transfer the melted chocolate to a small Ziplock bag and seal. Snip a tiny corner off one side and drizzle the chocolate decoratively over each cookie.
Set and Store: Allow the chocolate drizzle to set completely before storing the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature.
Enjoy and Share: Don't forget to leave a rating and comment to support and improve this recipe.

Notes

Store cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
Use room temperature eggs and butter for better mixing and texture.
If you prefer, substitute coconut oil for shortening in the chocolate drizzle for a slightly different flavor.
The Maraschino cherry juice adds a subtle cherry flavor; ensure you use juice from the cherries, not syrup.
Feel free to double the ganache recipe if you want thicker centers or more for dipping.
For a gluten-free option, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend of equal measure.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 180 kcal
Sugar: 15 g
Sodium: 90 mg
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 2 g
Cholesterol: 30 mg