These Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies are a dreamy mashup of sweet, buttery cookie dough, bursts of jewel-red maraschino cherries, and pools of melted chocolate chips—all with a whisper of salt on top for good measure. If you’re looking for a cookie that delivers total joy in every bite, this is the treat you cannot miss!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unbeatable Flavor Fusion: The sweet-tartness of maraschino cherries and the richness of chocolate chips are a match made in dessert heaven.
- Soft-Buttery Perfection: The cookies come out thick, tender, and irresistibly soft, just like your favorite bakery treat.
- Simple, No-Fuss Method: You don’t need any fancy equipment—just a few bowls and a bit of mixing, and you’re on your way to cherry chocolate bliss.
- Crowd-Pleasing Beauty: With bursts of ruby-red cherries and shiny chocolate chips, these cookies look as spectacular as they taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how a handful of pantry favorites can create such over-the-top Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss! Each ingredient has its own special role, whether it’s building chewy texture, adding bursts of flavor, or giving these cookies their beautiful signature color.
- All-purpose flour: This is the sturdy backbone that creates that classic, soft cookie texture everyone loves.
- Baking soda: Gives your cookies a gentle lift, ensuring they’re perfectly thick and never flat.
- Kosher salt: A pinch boosts all the sweet flavors and balances out the chocolate and cherries.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and a bit of extra flavor (no bland cookies, ever)!
- Brown sugar: Brings moisture and chewiness, while deepening that caramel-like cookie flavor.
- Granulated sugar: For sweetness and just the right amount of cookie crisp around the edges.
- Egg + an extra egg yolk: That bonus yolk creates an ultra-rich, tender dough that’s outrageously soft.
- Vanilla extract: The background note that makes every flavor in these cookies sing in harmony.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The melty, chocolatey pockets that melt with the cherries for total bliss.
- Maraschino cherries: Rinse, pat, and chop—these bring the signature burst of color and that unforgettable cherry twist.
- Flaked salt: A sprinkle on top heightens all the flavors and makes every cookie feel just a little bit gourmet.
Variations
The best part about Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss? It’s totally customizable! You can tailor these cookies based on what’s in your pantry, dietary needs, or your personal sweet-tooth cravings. Here are a few effortless twists to keep things exciting every time you bake!
- White Chocolate Magic: Swap the semi-sweet chips for creamy white chocolate for a rich, vanilla-cherry flavor pairing.
- Nut Lover’s Dream: Toss in a half cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunch that balances the soft dough and juicy cherries.
- Gluten-Free Friendly: Use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies accessible to everyone at your table.
- Make It Boozy: Stir in a splash of almond extract or a drizzle of cherry liqueur for an extra-grownup flavor kick.
How to Make Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Station
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper—this ensures your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies lift off the tray with no sticky mess and perfectly golden bottoms. While the oven is warming, take a minute to pat dry and chop your maraschino cherries to remove excess moisture.
Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. This quick step keeps your cookies from having any dry clumps and ensures the leavening is distributed for a consistent, dreamy rise.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high until the mixture is ultra-fluffy—about 5 minutes. This airiness is what gives your cookies that signature soft and chewy bite.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Crack in your egg and extra egg yolk (make sure they’re at room temperature for best results), followed by the vanilla extract. Beat everything until just combined—it should look creamy and beautifully golden.
Step 5: Combine and Fold
Add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until the dough just comes together. Don’t overmix! Then, fold in your chocolate chips and those jewel-like maraschino cherry pieces until they’re evenly distributed and every scoop promises Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Scoop or gently roll dough balls (about 1.5–2 tablespoons each) and arrange them a couple of inches apart on your baking sheet. Bake for just 10–12 minutes until barely set in the center—the cookies will continue to finish baking as they cool. Sprinkle with flaked salt while warm for that unforgettable flavor burst.
Step 7: Cool, Serve & Enjoy
Let the cookies cool completely on the tray for the perfect chewy texture, and get ready for pure Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss with every bite. They’re soft, melty, and so pretty—trust me, everyone will want the recipe!
Pro Tips for Making Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss
- Dry Those Cherries Thoroughly: Patting the maraschino cherries completely dry prevents excess moisture from making your cookies soggy and helps the dough hold together beautifully.
- Don’t Skip the Extra Yolk: The additional egg yolk is the secret to achieving that rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture—use room temperature eggs for the best blend.
- Use Softened (Not Melted) Butter: Creaming properly softened butter with sugar whips in extra air, making for a lofty and tender cookie.
- Finish With Flaked Salt: A tiny sprinkle of flaked salt while the cookies are warm takes these over the top, perfectly balancing the sweetness and making every flavor pop.
How to Serve Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss
Garnishes
For a bakery-worthy touch, garnish your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies with an extra scatter of chocolate chips or a few finely chopped cherries on top before baking. Once they’re out of the oven, the crowning sprinkle of flaked salt looks stunning and emphasizes that sweet-salty magic.
Side Dishes
These cookies are absolutely perfect with a frosty glass of cold milk or a creamy cherry milkshake. For a more grown-up treat, try pairing them with hot espresso or a little scoop of vanilla bean ice cream—the contrast makes the Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss shine!
Creative Ways to Present
Create an eye-catching cookie platter by stacking the cookies in a swirl and dotting the display with maraschino cherry halves and chocolate shavings. For parties or gifts, tuck a few Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies in a clear bag with a red ribbon for instant cheer—these beauties simply beg to be shared!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and fresh for up to 4 days—trust me, they rarely last that long!
Freezing
If you want to save your cookies for later, freeze the fully cooled cookies in a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. For ultimate convenience, you can also freeze scooped dough balls—bake straight from frozen, just add an extra minute or two to the baking time and get ready for fresh-from-the-oven Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss whenever a craving strikes.
Reheating
To recapture that just-baked “bliss,” pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds. The chocolate gets gooey again and the cherries turn extra luscious—irresistible!
FAQs
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Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino?
While you can use fresh cherries, maraschino cherries provide a bolder color and a classic, nostalgic flavor. If substituting fresh, pit, chop, and pat them very dry to avoid a watery dough. Expect a slightly less sweet but more natural fruit flavor in your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies.
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Why do I need to pat the cherries dry?
Maraschino cherries are packed in syrup and can release a lot of moisture, which could make your cookies soggy or cause them to spread too much. Patting them dry helps keep your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies thick, soft, and perfectly textured.
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Do I have to use flaked salt on top?
Flaked salt is optional—but highly recommended! It balances the sweetness and amplifies the chocolate and cherry flavors, making your Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss an unforgettable treat.
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Can I double the recipe for a party?
Absolutely! This dough doubles beautifully. Be sure to bake in batches, leaving space between cookies, and get ready to delight a crowd with double the Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for a sweet, heartwarming treat with a little “wow” in every bite, Cherry Chocolate Chip Bliss cookies are about to be your new favorite. Don’t be surprised if they disappear fast—there’s something magical about the cherry and chocolate combo that keeps everyone coming back for more. Go ahead and bake up a batch soon—you won’t regret a single, delicious crumb!
Print
Cherry Chocolate Chunk Delights Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 18 to 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the perfect blend of flavors with these Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies. A delightful twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie, the addition of maraschino cherries adds a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the rich chocolate chips beautifully. Finished with a sprinkle of flaked salt, these cookies are sure to become a favorite in your household.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) of salted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional Mix-ins:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup maraschino cherries, patted dry and chopped
- flaked salt, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, then mix in the chocolate chips and cherries.
- Form cookie dough: Scoop or roll the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until just set. Sprinkle with flaked salt and let cool before serving.
Notes
- You can refrigerate the dough for a few hours or overnight for enhanced flavor.
- Ensure the maraschino cherries are well-drained and patted dry to prevent excess moisture in the cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
