Description
Delight in these rich Chocolate and Cherry Lovers Cookies, a perfect blend of unsweetened cocoa, dried cherries, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. These soft, chewy cookies offer a wonderful balance of tart and sweet flavors, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes, ensuring even incorporation and a smooth texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, mix in the vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute all dry components. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined without overmixing.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the dried cherries and semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough without breaking them up.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft, achieving a chewy texture.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, slightly underbake and allow residual heat to finish cooking once removed from the oven.
- Dried cherries can be substituted with dried cranberries or raisins for a different flavor profile.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider adding 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans along with the chocolate chips and cherries.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
