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While these fudgy cookies are not the traditional cookie for many, they’re definitely unique! The chocolate dough on the bottom and chocolate ganache on top trap the cherry in the center of the cookie, creating a gooey, super-flavorful bite. There’s nothing more Christmas than these cookies!
These are not your ordinary chocolate cookies.
The holidays give us so many opportunities to take plates (or a cake stand) of goodies to parties and family get-togethers. I never want you to fall into the rut of baking the same thing repeatedly. That’s why I’m here to help, giving you my favorite unique recipes that I simply love to bake. Besides, these desserts always seem to impress.
With the wild success of my pecan tassies recipe, I’m happy to present another Christmastime treat: my family’s favorite chocolate-covered cherry cookies! These cookies are not only delectable and mouthwatering but are usually so unique that everyone will ask you for the recipe.
This is such a unique cookie, which makes them one of my favorites. Don’t be afraid of the odd ingredient of a maraschino cherry. The flavors come together in a seasonally classic way that you’ll surely love!
I love to take these to cookie swaps and gatherings because no one else will make them, but everyone will want the recipe!
More Christmas cookies
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Candy Bar Cookies
Chocolate Waffle Cookies
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Have I convinced you to make this recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they too can make, enjoy, and love!
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder sifted
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 10-oz jar Maraschino cherries
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. The mixture will be light and fluffy and well combined. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until it is smooth.½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup white granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- To the wet ingredients, slowly add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined. The dough will be dry and almost crumbly.1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda
- Using a cookie scoop, make 1 tablespoon (size 00) balls out of the dough, roll them in sanding or white granulated sugar, and place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Drain one 10-ounce jar of Maraschino cherries. Reserve the juice and set it aside for later. Pat cherries until very dry. If cherries are extra-large, cut them in half. Press a cherry into the center of each dough ball. Do not be afraid to press firmly.1 10-oz jar Maraschino cherries
- Place in the preheated 350°F oven and bake until the cookies are set, 10-12 minutes. Once the cookies are baked, remove them from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes and then frost while warm.
- While the cookies are baking, heat the heavy cream until it begins to simmer. Once it is simmering, pour the cream over the chocolate chips. Allow the cream to melt the chocolate for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the chocolate is melting, slowly stir the mixture until it is smooth. Once the chocolate is smooth, add 1 tbsp of the reserved cherry juice. Note: As the chocolate cools, it will solidify. To soften, simply warm in the microwave for 10 seconds and stir.¾ cup heavy cream, ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Once the ganache has cooled slightly and thickened, spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons of frosting onto the top of each baked warm cookie, covering the cherry. Sprinkle with sugar or decoration, if desired.
Chewy cherry cookies
Do you have a cook book if you don’t please make one I would love to have it
Love watching you and your mom cooking together! My husband loves chocolate and chocolate covered cherries, so he should love these. I have everything, even the special cherries in your video so I’m making them today. I will let you know how they turn out and how we like them. Thanks for all your recipes and the step by step instructions.
Chocolate covered cherries have always been one of my favorites. These are amazing. So easy to make.
Kaleb,
Thank you for all your eady to follow recipes.
May you & your family have a happy & Holy Christmas
Love your posts! And recipes, and yard and garden ideas, and all the knowledge you impart!
Thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you & your family 🎄♥️🎄
I love watching you and your Mom cooking together. I watched your video this morning for the chocolate covered cherry cookies and I had everything to make them, even the cherries you used. My husband loves chocolate and chocolate covered cherries, so I thought he would like these cookies and he loved them. My kids and grandkids came by this evening and they all had one and liked them too. Thank you again for a delicious recipe.
Ridiculously delicious! They are a better version of thumbprint cookies that we have made for years. Our new favorites!!
Ps. Yes, Luxardo cherries like you made them with in the video are fantastic
Delicious !!
Made these today and they’re very easy and super decadent!
O.K., I sprang for the Luxardo cherries after watching you make these on YouTube. Will they keep on the counter for 3 days? I want to make them today for Christmas. I already gave them 5 stars, because, you know…they’re going to be fabulous ☺️
Did you get a reply to how long they’d keep on the counter? I’d like to make them 3 days in advance, too.
Thanks!
These cookies have been approved by my rather picky family to include in our future Christmas cookie offerings. While the Luxardo cherries are spendy, they are so worth it as they shine in this recipe and aren’t the holidays the time for a little indulgence? They are easy to make too. Absolutely delicious!
Oh my gosh – what a cookie! Over-the-top delicious! Please check your measurements on the ganache…it made a very thin glaze that ran all over the cookie and the parchment paper. To make a frosting like the one in the picture, you need a much thicker ganache. I ended up using about a cup of chocolate chips to 3/4 c. of cream, and the ganache still ran off the cookie, but it did set up at room temperature. I had lots of ganache left over. I can’t wait to have it on some ice cream. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this very special recipe. Please thank your mother, too.
I made the chocolate covered cherry cookies today and they were so good!! I bought the same cherries that Kaleb had in his and they are unbelievably good!! I will be making these every year from now on.
Delicious! Made them with dark Morello sour cherries. Great sweet and tart contrast. However, is there an error in the ganache recipe? Proportions seem off. Mine was very runny, wouldn’t set up even in the fridge. Ended up adding more melted chocolate and mixing in lots of confectioners sugar to thicken. It also makes much more than needed for the cookies but I’ll use the leftover ganache for frosting since it’s so tasty! Your posts always inspire creativity. Thanks Kaleb!
Where can o purchase those cherries and is it sweetened cocoa
Kaleb, I made these cookies with Amarena cherries. Oh my gosh, are they delicious! They will now be part of my Christmas baking and any other special occasions.
I made these cookies today and OMG! So good. I tried to order the cherries but Amazon was sold out till after the holiday. They are delish with the cheep cherries, and I can not wait to make them with the good ones. I too had some difficulty with the ganache, but the key was just to wait until it thickens on its own. It took about an hour till i was happy with the consistency. Next time I’m gonna make the ganache first then bake the cookies. Thanks for the great recipe and for the tips and tricks.
Make these cookies! They are so decadent. I could not find Luxardo, but used Toschi candied sour Amarena cherries and the flavor was outstanding. Do yourself a favor and find a good cherry. It makes a difference. The cookie itself is wonderful and rich and the cherry and ganache just take it to the next level. Thank you, Kaleb!!
I’m new to your channel but whe. I saw this pop up on my YouTube list I knew I had to try it. The cookies are unbelievably good! I also loved seeing you and your mom in the kitcheb together.
I substituted coconut cream into my ganache and it worked perfectly. I also used Amarena cherries. Thank you both for sharing this wonderful recipe!
I made these today, 12/30. They are soooo good! My family loves chocolate covered cherries so these were a big family hit!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes. I love watching your videos.
These cookies were chewy and so so good. Next year I’ll order the fancy cherries on line. But the store bought cherries still made these little delectable bites! I’ve added this recipe for the every year baking extravaganza!
thanks Kaleb and Mom.
Delicious!!!!!
Oops! I posted before with one star. These are definitely 5 star!! ❤ I found the ganache a bit runny. I just added more melted chocolate and it was perfect.
This recipe is lovely. Easy and decadent. They are perfect for a Valentine’s treat. ♥️
These are amazing. My hubby loves them, especially because they freeze well. Thank you for such a wonderful and delicious recipe! They are great anytime of the year!
These look amazing! What cherries are you using? Definatly not the typical marachino ones used for Shirley temples.
In the video they are deep red and syrup looks thicker. Your mom mentioned the cherries also! Thank you. Love all your recipes!