Sweet Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies Recipe: Bite-Sized Joy

Maraschino cherry bliss cookies deliver pure delight with their whimsical sweetness and unexpected charm.

These vibrant treats dance between classic comfort and playful innovation.

Soft, buttery foundations welcome bright crimson gems that sparkle throughout each delectable bite.

Subtle almond undertones complement the cherries’ delicate flavor profile, creating a harmonious symphony of taste.

Classic bakery techniques merge with creative twists, promising something special for dessert enthusiasts.

Elegant yet approachable, these cookies invite you to experience a remarkable culinary moment.

One taste promises to transport you into a world of pure confectionery magic.

What Makes Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies So Special

• Maraschino cherries and chocolate chips create a delightful taste explosion that dances on your taste buds, offering a perfect balance of sweet and rich flavors.
• These cookies are super simple to make, requiring basic baking skills and minimal prep time, making them ideal for both novice and experienced bakers looking for a fun kitchen project.
• The vibrant pink color and soft, chewy texture combined with chocolate chip chunks and juicy cherry pieces make these cookies a feast for both eyes and mouth, perfect for special occasions or casual treats.
• Guaranteed to bring smiles and spark joy, these cookies appeal to all ages, work brilliantly for family gatherings, bake sales, or as a sweet weekend baking activity with kids.

What You’ll Need for Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and texture for the cookie base, choose unbleached for better flavor.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a soft and tender cookie, adds delicate crumb quality.
• Baking Soda: Ensures proper rise and creates a light cookie texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter: Serves as the primary fat, creates rich and tender cookies.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provide sweetness and contribute to cookie's soft texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add moisture to the dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Offers classic bakery flavor, use pure extract for best results.
• Almond Extract: Adds complementary nutty flavor to cherry profile.
• Pink Gel Food Coloring: Creates signature pink hue, use sparingly for soft color.

• Maraschino Cherries, Chocolate Chips: Add bursts of flavor and texture, choose high-quality brands for best taste.

Directions for Baking Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies

Step 1: Gather Delightful Ingredients

Collect all ingredients for your cookie adventure. Drain maraschino cherries completely and pat dry with paper towels. Chop cherries into small pieces, ensuring they’re not too wet.

Step 2: Prepare Dry Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Baking soda
• Salt

Whisk ingredients together until perfectly blended and set aside.

Step 3: Create Creamy Base

• Softened butter
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar

Mix on medium speed until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Enhance Flavor Profile

• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Pink gel food coloring

Beat for an additional 30-45 seconds until smooth and uniformly colored.

Step 5: Combine Mixtures

Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture using low mixer speed. Mix until just combined, creating a luscious cookie dough.

Step 6: Fold in Delectable Additions

• Chopped maraschino cherries
• Chocolate chips

Ensure even distribution throughout the mixture.

Step 7: Shape Delightful Cookies

Use a cookie scoop to form golf ball-sized dough balls. Strategically place extra chocolate chips and cherry pieces on cookie exteriors for visual appeal.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Arrange cookie dough on lined baking sheets with adequate spacing.

Bake for 10-13 minutes, watching carefully to maintain vibrant pink color.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 15 minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack until completely cooled.

Serve and savor your magnificent maraschino cherry bliss cookies!

Smart Tips for Cherry Bliss Cookie Success

• Drain Cherries Thoroughly: Pat maraschino cherries completely dry to prevent excess moisture from making cookies soggy and ensure vibrant color stays intact.
• Chill Dough Briefly: Refrigerate cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and help maintain the perfect round shape.
• Control Food Coloring: Add pink gel food coloring sparingly to achieve a soft, delicate pink tone without overpowering the cookie's natural appearance.
• Press Chocolate Strategically: Gently press extra chocolate chips and cherry pieces on cookie dough surfaces for a stunning, professional-looking finish.
• Avoid Overbaking: Watch cookies closely and remove from oven when edges are slightly golden but centers remain soft to preserve moisture and texture.

Storing and Reheating Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies

• Refrigerate: Place cooled cookies in an airtight container, layering with parchment paper between each row to prevent sticking. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for soft, delicious texture.
• Reheat: Warm cookies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300º F for 3-4 minutes to restore their fresh-baked warmth and softness.

Great Pairings for Cherry Bliss Cookies

• Pair with Effervescent Pink Champagne: The sweet, fruity notes of maraschino cherries in the cookies perfectly complement the light bubbles and delicate flavor of pink champagne, creating a luxurious dessert experience.
• Complement with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: The creamy, smooth vanilla bean ice cream balances the rich chocolate chips and adds a cool contrast to the warm, soft cookies, enhancing the overall taste profile.
• Match with Amaretto Liqueur: The almond extract in the cookies harmonizes beautifully with the nutty, sweet amaretto, making for a sophisticated and indulgent pairing that elevates the dessert's complexity.
• Serve with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries: A dollop of light whipped cream and a sprinkle of fresh raspberries or strawberries add a refreshing brightness that cuts through the cookie's sweetness and provides a delightful textural contrast.

Fun Variations of Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies

• Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies: Replace chocolate chips with chunky dark chocolate pieces for a richer, more intense flavor profile. Add extra chopped cherries for bursts of fruity sweetness.
• Almond Cherry Shortbread: Transform the recipe into a delicate shortbread by reducing sugar, increasing cornstarch, and shaping the dough into classic shortbread rounds. Sprinkle with sliced almonds before baking for added crunch.
• White Chocolate Cherry Blast: Swap milk chocolate chips for white chocolate chips and add a light drizzle of white chocolate over cooled cookies. Incorporate finely chopped dried cherries for extra tang and texture.
• Gluten-Free Cherry Bliss: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same soft and chewy texture. Add a touch of xanthan gum to improve cookie structure and prevent crumbling.

FAQs for Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies

• Can I use regular cherries instead of maraschino cherries?

No, maraschino cherries are key to achieving the unique pink color and sweet flavor of these cookies. Regular cherries won’t provide the same result.

• How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking and ensure your butter is softened but not melted. This helps maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.

• How long can I store these cookies?

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 weeks.

• Can I skip the food coloring?

While the pink gel food coloring creates the signature look, you can omit it. The cookies will still taste delicious, just without the vibrant pink color.

Maraschino Cherry Bliss Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Mouthwatering maraschino cherry bliss cookies deliver sweet nostalgia with classic American bakery charm. Delicate almond-kissed crumbles melt perfectly, inviting cookie enthusiasts to savor each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups (267 grams) light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• Small amount of pink gel food coloring

Mix-ins and Garnish:

• 2 cups (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus extra for garnish
• 1 cup drained & finely chopped maraschino cherries, plus extra for garnish

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Instructions

1. Carefully drain maraschino cherries and pat dry with paper towels, then delicately chop into small pieces to prevent excess moisture.
2. Sift together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
3. In a spacious mixing bowl, vigorously cream butter with brown and granulated sugars until the mixture becomes light and airy, developing a smooth, pale consistency.
4. Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and pink gel food coloring into the butter mixture, blending until completely integrated and achieving a soft pink hue.
5. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender cookie texture.
6. Tenderly fold chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
7. Using a cookie scoop, form uniform dough balls, strategically embedding additional chocolate chips and cherry pieces on the exterior for visual appeal.
8. Arrange cookie dough balls on a lined baking sheet, providing ample space between each to allow for spreading during baking.
9. Preheat oven to 350º F (177º C) and bake cookies for 11-12 minutes, watching carefully to preserve their vibrant color and prevent over-browning.
10. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling process.

Notes

• Drain cherries thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from making cookies soggy.
• Use room temperature butter and eggs for smoother, more even cookie texture.
• Pink gel food coloring creates vibrant color without altering cookie consistency.
• Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading.
• Extra chocolate chips pressed on cookie exteriors create beautiful, professional-looking finish.
• Allow cookies to cool completely to maintain soft, chewy texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 100mg
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg