Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe You’ll Love

Sweet and decadent chocolate cherry cookies dance between rich cocoa and bright fruit flavors.

Dark chocolate melts seamlessly with tangy cherries, creating an irresistible combination.

Soft cookie edges hint at the delightful texture waiting inside.

Every bite brings a burst of intense chocolate complemented by sweet-tart cherry notes.

Bakers love how simple ingredients combine into something extraordinary.

The recipe promises a delectable treat that brings joy to dessert lovers everywhere.

These cookies will become your new favorite indulgence.

Why Chocolate Cherry Cookies Are Loved

  • These chocolate cherry cookies are perfect for satisfying sudden sweet cravings with minimal fuss.
  • Swap cherry preserves for other fruit spreads or add nuts to create your unique flavor twist that matches your mood.
  • Kids can help roll cookie balls and press centers, making this a fun collaborative cooking project that brings everyone together in the kitchen.
  • Despite looking fancy, these cookies require basic baking skills and simple ingredients, guaranteeing a delightful dessert that seems more complicated than it really is.

Ingredients for Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Core Ingredients:
  • Flour: Essential base for the cookie structure.
  • Cocoa Powder: Provides rich chocolate flavor.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender texture.
  • Brown Sugar: Contributes moisture and deep caramel notes.
  • White Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie crispness.
  • Egg Yolks: Bind ingredients and provide richness.
Wet Binding Ingredients:
  • Vanilla: Enhances overall flavor profile.
  • Salt: Balances and elevates the sweet flavors.
  • Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light.
Filling and Finishing Ingredients:
  • Chocolate: Creates smooth ganache base.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps create creamy ganache texture.
  • Cherry Preserves: Adds fruity flavor and moisture to the filling.
  • Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugars, beating wet ingredients smoothly.
  • Medium mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and preparing mixtures.
  • Whisk: Helps evenly blend flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
  • 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon: Useful for creating indents in cookie dough.
  • Baking sheet: Needed for baking cookies in the oven.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape and mix ingredients thoroughly.
  • Parchment paper: Optional but recommended for easy cookie removal.
  • Cookie cutter: Optional for shaping cookies after baking.

Steps for Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Dry Mixture

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder until perfectly blended.

Set the mixture aside, ready for the next magical step.

Step 2: Cream Butter And Sugars

Using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and white sugar on high speed.

Whip the mixture until it becomes creamy and smooth, creating a fluffy base for your delightful cookies.

Step 3: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

Add egg yolks and vanilla to the butter mixture.

Mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until the combination looks light and irresistibly fluffy.

Step 4: Create Cookie Dough

Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

Mix until just combined.

Scoop out 32 portions, roll into perfect little balls, and create a small indent in each cookie.

Refrigerate for one hour to firm up the dough.

Step 5: Bake To Perfection

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes.

While still hot, gently press centers again and reshape if needed.

Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes.

Step 6: Craft Decadent Ganache

Pour steaming hot cream over finely chopped chocolate.

Stir until smooth and glossy.

Swirl in cherry preserves to create a luscious filling that will make taste buds dance.

Step 7: Final Assembly

Carefully fill each cookie with a teaspoon of the cherry chocolate ganache.

Chill for 10-15 minutes to let the filling set perfectly.

Enjoy your spectacular chocolate cherry cookies!

Tips for the Best Chocolate Cherry Cookies

  • Refrigerate cookie dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and ensure perfectly round, thick cookies.
  • Use the back of a small spoon or your thumb to create a deep, uniform indent in each cookie before and after baking.
  • Choose high-quality dark chocolate for a richer ganache that complements the sweet cherry preserves.
  • Let ingredients like butter, eggs, and cream sit at room temperature for smoother mixing and better texture.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper to maintain their crisp edges and prevent sticking.
  • Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Cookies: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive bakers.
  • Vegan Chocolate Cherry Delight: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of egg yolks, and select dairy-free chocolate for plant-based lovers.
  • Low-Sugar Cherry Chocolate Treats: Substitute regular sugars with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reduce overall sugar content for health-conscious individuals.
  • Nutty Chocolate Cherry Cookies: Add chopped almonds or pecans to dough for extra crunch and nutty flavor profile.

Ways to Present Chocolate Cherry Cookies

  • Elegant Dessert Platter: Arrange cookies on a sleek white ceramic plate with delicate gold edges, garnishing with fresh cherries and a light dusting of powdered sugar for a sophisticated presentation.
  • Decadent Chocolate Pairing: Serve alongside a small glass of port wine or rich espresso to complement the intense chocolate and cherry flavors, creating a luxurious after-dinner treat.
  • Gifting Gourmet Touch: Package cookies in a clear cellophane bag tied with a burgundy ribbon, perfect for hostess gifts or holiday sharing with fellow chocolate and cherry lovers.
  • Summer Picnic Delight: Pack cookies in a vintage tin with parchment paper between layers, ideal for outdoor gatherings or as a sweet surprise in a picnic basket.

Storing Chocolate Cherry Cookies Right

  • Store cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper for up to 5 days. Keep refrigerated to maintain ganache's texture and prevent melting.
  • Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, place in freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
  • Warm cookies gently in microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in preheated 300F oven for 2-3 minutes to restore soft texture. Avoid overheating to prevent ganache from separating.
  • Let frozen or refrigerated cookies sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften ganache and enhance flavor before enjoying.

FAQs

  • Why use both brown and white sugar in this recipe?

The combination of brown and white sugar creates a perfect balance of moisture, flavor, and texture. Brown sugar adds depth and chewiness, while white sugar helps with crispness and sweetness.

  • How do I know when the cookie dough is properly mixed?

Stop mixing as soon as the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Overmixing can lead to tough, dense cookies that lose their delicate texture.

  • Can I use fresh cherries instead of preserves in the ganache?

Cherry preserves provide concentrated flavor and smooth consistency. Fresh cherries have too much moisture and might make the ganache runny, so it’s best to stick with preserves.

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Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe


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4.9 from 24 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Chocolate cherry cookies blend rich cocoa with sweet cherries in a delightful dessert. Sophisticated flavors and textures make these cookies irresistible for home bakers seeking a gourmet treat you’ll savor.


Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Base:

  • 1 1/2 cups (188 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (40 g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Wet Ingredients and Sweeteners:

  • 3/4 cup (168 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (165 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
  • 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Flavor and Filling Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces (141 g) Endangered Species Chocolate Vibrant Cherries + Dark Chocolate, chopped
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (90 milliliters) heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup (85 g) cherry preserves

Instructions

  1. Sift cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl, ensuring a smooth, lump-free dry mixture. Set aside for later use.
  2. Using an electric mixer, cream butter with brown and white sugars at high speed until the mixture becomes light, airy, and pale in color, approximately 3 minutes.
  3. Incorporate egg yolks and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending on medium speed until the consistency becomes smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain cookie tenderness.
  5. Portion dough into 32 equal rounds, rolling each into a smooth ball. Create a gentle indentation in the center of each cookie using the back of a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon.
  6. Refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour to enhance flavor development and prevent spreading during baking.
  7. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange chilled cookies on a lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
  8. Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges appear slightly crisp. Immediately upon removal, re-press centers to maintain the indentation.
  9. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  10. Prepare ganache by pouring hot cream over finely chopped chocolate, stirring until completely smooth and glossy.
  11. Fold cherry preserves into the ganache, creating a rich, fruity filling.
  12. Carefully fill each cookie’s center with approximately 1 teaspoon of cherry chocolate ganache.
  13. Chill cookies for 10-15 minutes to set the ganache and enhance flavor melding.

Notes

  • Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain cookie shape during baking.
  • Use high-quality cocoa powder for rich, deep chocolate flavor that complements cherry ganache.
  • For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free blend, ensuring texture remains tender.
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, creating a more consistent cookie dough with better overall texture.
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 175
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 90 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 33 mg
Clara Thompson

Clara Thompson

Recipe Developer & Food Educator

Expertise

Plant-based and vegetarian recipe development, Nutritional analysis and meal planning, Culinary education and workshop facilitation, Content writing with a focus on healthy living​

Education

Diploma in Culinary Arts, Mt. San Jacinto College, CA
Focus: Comprehensive culinary training with an emphasis on sustainable cooking practices.

Certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living, Cornell University (Online Program)
Focus: Understanding the principles of nutrition to create balanced and health-conscious recipes.


Clara lives where fresh ideas and fresh ingredients meet. She pairs her culinary know-how with her passion for healthy, planet-friendly cooking.
For Clara, good food should taste great, nourish your body, and feel easy to make. Her recipes highlight whole foods, colorful produce, and a deep respect for seasonal eating.

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