Description

These old-fashioned maraschino cherry cookies are thick, soft, and full of real cherry flavor. With their rustic look and chewy texture, they’re exactly the kind of homemade cookie people love to bake and share during the holidays or for Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained, dried, and chopped
1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and cherry juice. Mix until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries gently.
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Do not flatten the dough balls. Keeping them rough and slightly uneven helps create the thick, rustic look shown in the photos.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

Drying the cherries well is important to prevent excess moisture in the dough. Chill the dough for 20–30 minutes if you want taller cookies. Add white chocolate chips or roll in sugar for variations. Swap vanilla for almond extract if desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 120
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 55mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 15mg

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