Print

Maraschino Cherry Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 78 reviews

Delightfully sweet and colorful Maraschino Cherry Cookies featuring buttery dough studded with juicy maraschino cherries. These soft, chewy cookies are perfect for festive occasions or a fun treat any time you crave a burst of cherry flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 8 tbsp butter (one stick), melted
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp red food coloring (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Filling

  • 16 oz maraschino cherries, drained and quartered or halved

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to fully preheat while you prepare the dough.
  2. Melt the butter: Place the butter in a microwave-safe dish and melt it until liquid. Pour it into a medium mixing bowl.
  3. Combine sugars: Add both the white sugar and brown sugar to the melted butter and mix thoroughly until well combined.
  4. Add egg and vanilla: Crack the egg into the mixture and pour in vanilla extract. Mix again until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
  5. Add food coloring (optional): If using, add the red food coloring now and stir until evenly distributed to give your cookies a festive hue.
  6. Add dry ingredients: Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt gradually until the dough comes together, ensuring no lumps remain.
  7. Prepare cherries: Drain the cherries thoroughly and place them on a cutting board. Slice them into halves or quarters as preferred.
  8. Incorporate cherries: Gently fold the sliced cherries into the cookie dough, making sure they are evenly distributed without mashing them.
  9. Shape cookies: Using your hands or a scoop, form the dough into balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced apart, as the dough will spread during baking. Gently press down on each ball to flatten slightly.
  10. Bake and cool: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until edges are set. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 30 minutes before transferring to a rack or serving.

Notes

  • Draining cherries well is important to prevent excess moisture from making the dough too wet.
  • If you prefer a stronger cherry flavor, you can chop the cherries finer or add a teaspoon of cherry juice to the dough.
  • Red food coloring is optional but adds a festive touch to the cookies.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days for optimal freshness.
  • You can freeze the cookie dough balls before baking — bake directly from frozen adding 1-2 minutes to baking time.

Keywords: maraschino cherry cookies, cherry cookies, festive cookies, butter cookies, soft cherry cookies, holiday cookies

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/maraschino-cherry-cookies-recipe/