Description
Maraschino cherry chocolate chip cookies deliver a playful twist on classic comfort baking with sweet cherries nestled in rich chocolate dough. Nostalgic flavors merge into one irresistible treat that you won’t be able to resist sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Category:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground chicken
- 1 egg
Cheese and Vegetable Category:
- ½ cup (50 grams) shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (30 grams) fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Seasoning and Binding Category:
- ¼ cup (30 grams) breadcrumbs (or panko; almond flour for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a spacious mixing vessel until the mixture achieves a light, fluffy consistency.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until the ingredients are seamlessly integrated.
- Gradually fold in flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring carefully to create a smooth, uniform dough without overmixing.
- Gently fold chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring even distribution of ingredients throughout the mixture.
- Chill the prepared dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to enhance flavor development and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Scoop rounded tablespoon-sized portions of chilled dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies approximately 2 inches apart to allow proper spreading.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching carefully until edges turn golden brown and centers appear slightly soft.
- Remove cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up slightly.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to cool completely and develop a delightful chewy texture.
- Optional: Drizzle melted chocolate over cooled cookies or sprinkle additional chopped maraschino cherries on top for extra visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and better texture in your cookies.
- Drain maraschino cherries thoroughly and pat dry to prevent excess moisture from making cookies soggy.
- Chop cherries into smaller pieces for more consistent flavor distribution throughout the cookie dough.
- Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies.
- For gluten-free variation, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Reduce sugar content by using less chocolate chips or choosing dark chocolate for a more intense, less sweet flavor profile.
- Experiment with adding chopped nuts like almonds or pecans for extra crunch and depth of flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and soft texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 370 mg