This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Please read our disclosure policy.
Not Your Ordinary Chocolate Cookie
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 also so unique that everyone will ask you for the recipe.
This is such a unique cookie, which makes it 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
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 can 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
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder sifted
- ¼ tsp kosher 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.8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 cup 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 Dutch-process cocoa powder, ¼ tsp kosher 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.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
Hi Kaleb and Mom,
I made these cookies for the Christmas tins. All went well but the Ganache was so runny! Clearly I need more help with Ganache. I put it in the fridge but couldn’t leave for long because then the cookies would cool down. They some what solidifies overnight. Looked like a volcano!
Taste was fine! ( I had checked and double checked the proportions.)
Hints on Ganache?
I am so glad I made these cookies they are absolutely delicious!! I did have to wait a bit longer than I expected for the ganache to thicken up enough to cover the cherry properly but it was certainly worth the wait. Think these are our new favorite. Keep up giving us these fantastic recipes. So glad I found you on Facebook.
What glorious little treats these are!! Absolutely delicious and exactly the right size. Thank you, Kaleb, for a new addition to our Christmas rotation. I’ll never leave these out. ❤️🎄
I made the chocolate covered cherry cookies a couple years ago and I made them again yesterday, they are amazingly delicious! I never messaged back on how my husband who loves chocolate and chocolate coved cherries, liked these cookies, I’m thrilled to say he absolutely loved them and having the Luxardo cherries makes them more delicious. Thanks for sharing a family favorite, that has become a favorite of ours.
I’m giving it 5 stars even though mine didn’t turn out right. I figure it was my fault. The chocolate cookie itself is perfect. I just couldn’t get the icing right. I can think of so many things you can do with that. Forgot to put a cherry in one so I put the ganache on and sprinkled crushed peppermint candy on it. That was good.
I’m in the process of making these…how do you store them? How long will they store in a cold environment?
Made these today. So good!! The recipe makes more ganache than needed and it stays kind of gooey, but they are delicious.
Love these and making for a second year in a row. We live near a Cherry Orchard and made rum soaked cherries! We use them in this recipe! Delish!
Made the chocolate covered cherry cookies today and they are amazing. I splurged and used Luxardo cherries and it was so worth it. Highly recommend, and can’t wait to share with loved ones. 😊
Caleb, I love how real you are from the garden to your kitchen & through your beautifully renovated familyhome! Your nostalgia speaks to me on so many levels! Your recipes are feel good food minus all the crazy ingredients my husband usually is scared of! I can make any of your dishes with ease not to mention how flavorful they are! Thank you for the sharing of your fabulous talents with us!
🎄🐈⬛🎄Merry Christmas, Kitty