Quick & Sweet: Maraschino Cherry Delight Cookies Recipe

Sweet maraschino cherry delight cookies promise a burst of nostalgic flavor in every delectable bite.

These charming treats blend classic bakery magic with playful fruity notes.

Delicate pink-hued cookies capture elegant whimsy and childhood memories simultaneously.

Soft, buttery textures mingle with bright cherry essence, creating an irresistible sensory experience.

Festive and cheerful, these cookies bring unexpected joy to traditional dessert expectations.

Colorful and light, they sparkle with a subtle sweetness that dances across your palate.

Baking these delightful morsels connects you to a world of pure culinary happiness.

Explore this recipe and let your kitchen become a playground of delicious creativity.

What to Pair with Cherry Delight Cookies

• Boost Beverage Pairing: Pair these sweet cookies with a chilled glass of rosé wine or a creamy vanilla milkshake to complement the cherry and chocolate flavors.
• Flavor-Enhancing Companion: Serve alongside a light, tangy lemon sorbet to create a delightful contrast with the rich, sweet cookie profile.
• Dessert Plate Perfection: Arrange cookies with a small scoop of almond-flavored ice cream to amplify the subtle almond extract notes and create a harmonious dessert experience.
• Complementary Coffee Match: Enjoy with a smooth cappuccino or a classic espresso to balance the sweetness and highlight the cookie's delicate cherry undertones.

Cherry Delight Cookie Recipe Variations

• Chocolate Cherry Crunch: Replace chocolate chips with dark chocolate chunks and add toasted chopped almonds for extra texture and nutty flavor.
• Citrus Cherry Blast: Incorporate orange zest into the dough and swap almond extract with fresh lemon extract for a bright, tangy profile.
• White Chocolate Raspberry Remix: Substitute maraschino cherries with fresh raspberries and use white chocolate chips for a creamy, elegant version of the original recipe.
• Coconut Cherry Dream: Mix shredded coconut into the dough and roll cookie balls in additional coconut before baking for a tropical-inspired treat.

FAQs About Maraschino Cherry Delight Cookies

• Can I use regular cherries instead of maraschino cherries?

The recipe specifically calls for maraschino cherries to achieve the unique flavor and pink color. Regular cherries won’t provide the same sweet taste and vibrant hue.

• How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much while baking?

Make sure your butter is room temperature but not melted, and chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and prevents excessive spreading.

• Can I skip the food coloring?

While you can skip the pink gel food coloring, it adds a beautiful color and visual appeal to the cookies. The color enhances the maraschino cherry theme of the recipe.

• How should 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, separating layers with parchment paper.

Why You’ll Crave Maraschino Cherry Delight Cookies

• These cookies pack a delightful punch with maraschino cherries and chocolate chips, creating a perfect balance of fruity and rich taste sensations.
• Requiring just basic baking skills and simple ingredients, these cookies are perfect for bakers of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.
• The soft pink hue combined with vibrant cherry pieces and chocolate chips makes these cookies Instagram-worthy and guaranteed to impress at any gathering.
• Ideal for Valentine's Day, bridal showers, birthday parties, or casual weekend baking, these cookies offer a unique twist on traditional chocolate chip recipes.

Ingredients for Cherry Delight Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour, Cornstarch: Essential dry ingredients that provide structure and tenderness to the cookies, with cornstarch adding extra softness.
• Baking Soda, Salt: Leavening agent and flavor enhancer that helps cookies rise and balances sweetness.

• Butter, Sugars: Rich, creamy base that creates soft texture and sweet flavor, use room-temperature unsalted butter for best results.
• Eggs, Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Binding agents that add moisture and deep, complementary flavor profiles.

• Maraschino Cherries: Vibrant, sweet fruit that adds color and bursts of flavor, choose bright red, high-quality cherries.
• Chocolate Chips: Sweet morsels that provide rich chocolate pockets, opt for semi-sweet or milk chocolate varieties.
• Pink Gel Food Coloring: Adds festive pink hue, use sparingly for soft pastel or more for vibrant color.

Instructions for Baking Cherry Delight Cookies

Step 1: Prepare the Cherry Base

Drain maraschino cherries thoroughly. Pat them completely dry using paper towels. Finely chop the cherries into small pieces. Set aside on a clean towel to absorb any remaining moisture.

Step 2: Create the Dry Ingredient Blend

Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Use the spoon and level method for precise flour measurement. Set this mixture aside for later use.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, combine room-temperature butter with granulated and brown sugars. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color.

Step 4: Add Liquid Ingredients

Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the butter mixture. Mix for an additional 30 seconds until well combined. Add a small amount of pink gel food coloring to create a delicate blush tone.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredient blend to the wet mixture. Mix at low speed until just combined, creating a soft, thick cookie dough.

Step 6: Fold in Delicious Additions

Gently fold chopped cherries and chocolate chips into the dough. Ensure even distribution of ingredients throughout the mixture.

Step 7: Prepare for Baking

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Step 8: Shape and Decorate Cookies

Use a cookie scoop to form golf ball-sized dough balls. Press additional chocolate chips and cherry pieces onto the top of each cookie for extra visual appeal.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Bake for 10-13 minutes, watching carefully to maintain color and prevent overbaking.

Step 10: Cool and Enjoy

Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and delight in the sweet, cherry-studded treats!

Cherry Cookie Tips for Best Results

• Precise Flour Preparation: Whisk flour before measuring to incorporate air, ensuring lighter, more consistent cookie texture.
• Moisture Management: Pat cherries thoroughly with paper towels to eliminate excess liquid, preventing soggy or spread-out cookies.
• Temperature Control: Use room-temperature butter and eggs for smoother mixing and better cookie structure.
• Color Precision: Add gel food coloring gradually, mixing thoroughly to achieve a consistent, vibrant pink without streaking.
• Gentle Mixing Technique: Fold chocolate chips and cherries by hand to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookie dough and create dense cookies.

Storing Cherry Delight Cookies the Right Way

• Refrigerate: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keeps fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for long-lasting enjoyment.
• Reheat: Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or briefly in a preheated 300º F oven for 2-3 minutes to restore their soft, fresh-baked texture.

Maraschino Cherry Delight Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Sweet dreams come alive with maraschino cherry delight cookies, blending nostalgic charm and delicate flavors. Festive crumbly treats promise delightful moments that dance between classic comfort and playful indulgence you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Flour and Sugars:

• 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1¼ cups (267 grams) light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar

Chocolate and Cherries:

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

Baking and Flavor Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon almond extract
• Small amount of pink gel food coloring

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Instructions

1. Meticulously sift flour to ensure a light, airy texture, spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling with a precise knife stroke.
2. Gently pat maraschino cherries dry on absorbent paper towels, finely dicing to distribute evenly throughout the cookie dough.
3. Heat the oven to 350º F (177º C), laying out a silicone mat or parchment paper to create a non-stick baking surface.
4. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing vessel, setting aside this critical dry ingredient blend.
5. Cream butter with granulated and brown sugars, whipping until the mixture transforms into a pale, voluminous consistency.
6. Introduce eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts, blending thoroughly to create a smooth, fragrant base.
7. Infuse the dough with a delicate pink hue using gel food coloring, stirring until the color is uniformly distributed.
8. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredient mixture, mixing at low speed until a thick, cohesive dough forms.
9. Delicately fold chopped cherries and chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring even dispersal of each morsel.
10. Sculpt the dough into generous spheres using a cookie scoop, strategically pressing additional chocolate chips and cherry pieces onto the surface.
11. Arrange cookies on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining ample spacing between each.
12. Bake for 10-13 minutes, watching carefully to preserve the cookies’ vibrant color and tender texture.
13. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for a quarter-hour, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Precise flour measurement ensures light, fluffy cookies by preventing dense, heavy texture.
• Thoroughly drain maraschino cherries to avoid excess moisture that could make cookies soggy and compromise the delicate crumb.
• Room-temperature butter creates a smoother, more even mixture that helps cookies achieve a perfect, soft consistency.
• Adding gel food coloring provides a vibrant pink hue without thinning the dough, maintaining the ideal cookie texture.
• Hand-folding cherries and chocolate chips prevents overmixing and distributes ingredients evenly for balanced flavor in every bite.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet initially to allow them to set and firm up before transferring, preventing potential crumbling.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 75mg
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg