Description
Delight in these Cherry Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies, a perfect blend of sweet maraschino cherries, rich chocolate chips, and a hint of almond extract, all baked into soft, chewy cookies that are sure to satisfy your dessert cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
- 1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Beat Butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until it is smooth and creamy, providing a rich base for the cookie dough.
- Add Flavorings and Sugar: Mix in the almond or vanilla extract along with the powdered sugar until fully combined, ensuring a sweet and aromatic dough.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms, which will give the cookies their structure.
- Mix in Cherries and Chocolate: Stir in the maraschino cherry juice, chopped maraschino cherries, and chocolate chips to disperse flavor and texture evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, flatten each slightly, and arrange them evenly on the prepared cookie sheets for uniform baking.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheets in the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating that the cookies are perfectly baked.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Softened butter is key for achieving a creamy dough base.
- Maraschino cherry juice helps infuse additional cherry flavor into the cookies.
- Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven; keep an eye on the cookie edges for doneness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
- For a stronger almond flavor, consider using almond extract instead of vanilla.
