9 Cheerfully Nostalgic & Irresistible Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Delight

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By Gianna Poulef

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thank you for being here, my friend There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about maraschino cherries — bright, sweet, and straight out of childhood memories. These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, buttery, and loaded with gooey chocolate chips and pops of cherry sweetness in every bite. They’re colorful, festive, and honestly just fun to bake and eat.

This is the kind of cookie that makes people smile before they even take a bite. I love making them around the holidays, for bake sales, or whenever I want to shake up the classic chocolate chip cookie with something a little extra special.

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Overview of Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies take a classic chocolate chip base and elevate it with chopped maraschino cherries. The result is a soft, chewy cookie with buttery richness, deep caramel notes from brown sugar, melty chocolate, and bright cherry sweetness throughout.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

  • Soft, chewy centers with lightly crisp edges
  • Perfect balance of chocolate and cherry
  • Festive color and nostalgic flavor
  • Easy to make with pantry staples
  • Crowd-pleasing and kid-approved

What They Taste Like

Classic chocolate chip cookies with bursts of sweet cherry flavor — buttery, gooey, and delightfully playful.

Full Ingredient List (Complete & Detailed)

This Now, Make It Later!

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, drained well and finely chopped
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Tools You’ll Need

  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cookie scoop or spoon
  • Cooling rack

Substitutions & Variations

  • Use dark or milk chocolate chips
  • Add white chocolate chips for contrast
  • Sprinkle flaky sea salt after baking
  • Add ¼ teaspoon almond extract for bakery-style flavor

How to Make Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies come together just like your favorite classic — with one colorful twist

1. Prep the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream Butter & Sugars

Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add Eggs & Vanilla

Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.

4. Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.

5. Combine

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

6. Fold in Cherries & Chocolate

Gently fold in chopped cherries and chocolate chips.

7. Scoop & Bake

Scoop dough onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers are soft.

8. Cool

Let cookies cool on pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

What to Serve with These Cookies

  • Cold milk
  • Hot coffee or cocoa
  • Ice cream sandwiches
  • Holiday cookie trays
  • Pat cherries dry to avoid excess moisture
  • Don’t overbake — soft centers are key
  • Chill dough 20 minutes if spreading
  • Use room-temperature butter for best texture

Storage Instructions

  • Room temperature: 3 days, covered
  • Refrigerator: Up to 5 days
  • Freezer: Freeze dough balls or baked cookies up to 2 months

General Information

Maraschino cherries have been a staple in American baking for generations, often showing up in holiday cookies and vintage dessert recipes. Paired with chocolate, they create a playful, retro-inspired flavor that still feels special today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these cookies taste artificial?
No — draining and chopping the cherries properly keeps flavor balanced.

Can I use cherry chips instead?
Yes, but fresh cherries add better texture.

Why are my cookies spreading?
Butter may be too warm — chill dough briefly.

Can I make these ahead?
Yes! Dough freezes beautifully.

Conclusion

These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Delight are cheerful, nostalgic, and downright delicious. They’re the perfect twist on a classic cookie — familiar, yet just unexpected enough to stand out.

If you love fun, comforting bakes, try these next:

Interactive Corner

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Your colorful bakes always make me smile

CaloriesCarbsProteinFatSugar
210 kcal28g3g10g18g
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9 Cheerfully Nostalgic & Irresistible Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Delight


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  • Author: Gianna Poulef
  • Total Time: 27 mins
  • Yield: 24 cookies 1x

Description

Soft and chewy maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies with buttery dough and gooey chocolate in every bite.


Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets.

2. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.

3. Add eggs and vanilla.

4. Whisk dry ingredients separately.

5. Combine wet and dry ingredients.

6. Fold in cherries and chocolate chips.

7. Scoop dough onto baking sheets.

8. Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set.

9. Cool before serving.

Notes

Pat cherries dry before chopping.

Do not overbake.

Chill dough if cookies spread too much.

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 12 mins
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 18g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 35mg
9 Cheerfully Nostalgic & Irresistible Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Delight
Gianna Poulef
CEO, Chef & Recipe Creator at BLYNO LLC | Website

I’m Gianna Poulef from Poulef Recipes. I love sharing perfected dishes from my kitchen. I’m sure they’ll earn a spot in your heart. Let’s savor this journey together!.

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