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)
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
Tips for Cookie Perfection
- 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:
- Oatmeal Cottage Cheese Cookies → https://poulef.com/oatmeal-cottage-cheese-cookies/
- Protein Cookie Dough → https://poulef.com/protein-cookie-dough/
- Flourless Banana Muffins → https://poulef.com/flourless-banana-muffins/
- Banana Walnut Cake → https://poulef.com/banana-walnut-cake/
- Healthy Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal → https://poulef.com/healthy-carrot-cake-baked-oatmeal/
Interactive Corner
Did you bake these cherry-studded beauties?
Leave a review and share your cookies on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/poulefrecipe/
Your colorful bakes always make me smile
Nutritional Information (Approx. Per Cookie)
| Calories | Carbs | Protein | Fat | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 kcal | 28g | 3g | 10g | 18g |
9 Cheerfully Nostalgic & Irresistible Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Delight
- 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
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
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Gianna Poulef
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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