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Maraschino Cherry Cookies Recipe

4.4 from 104 reviews

Delightful Maraschino Cherry Cookies with a soft, buttery base and bursts of sweet maraschino cherries in every bite. These easy-to-make cookies offer a festive red hue, perfect for holiday treats or anytime indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 8 tbsp butter (one stick), melted
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large 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

Mix-ins

  • 16 oz maraschino cherries, drained and quartered or halved

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when your cookie dough is prepared.
  2. Melt Butter: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish and pour it into a medium-sized mixing bowl to create the cookie dough base.
  3. Add Sugars: Add the white and brown sugars to the melted butter and mix thoroughly until combined and smooth.
  4. Incorporate Egg and Vanilla: Crack in the egg and add vanilla extract, then mix well to blend all ingredients into a uniform batter.
  5. Add Food Coloring: If using, add the red food coloring to the mixture and stir continuously until the color is evenly distributed.
  6. Mix Dry Ingredients: Stir in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined to avoid overmixing.
  7. Prepare Cherries: Drain maraschino cherries to remove excess juice. Slice cherries into halves or quarters, then gently fold them into the cookie dough.
  8. Shape Cookies: Scoop dough into balls and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart to allow spreading. Gently press each ball to flatten slightly.
  9. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
  10. Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes to set properly before serving.

Notes

  • Drain the cherries well to prevent excess moisture from affecting cookie texture.
  • Red food coloring is optional but adds a festive look to the cookies.
  • For softer cookies, slightly underbake by a minute or two, as they continue to firm up while cooling.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Keywords: maraschino cherry cookies, cherry cookies, festive cookies, holiday treats, soft cookies, red cookies