Chewy White Chocolate Cherry Cookies: Your Ultimate Guide to Festive Holiday Baking
There’s a special kind of magic in a freshly baked cookie, and these White Chocolate Cherry Cookies embody that magic perfectly. Imagine a soft, chewy cookie with a delightful almond extract flavor, a pretty pink hue, studded with vibrant chopped Maraschino cherries and creamy white chocolate chips. Each bite offers an exquisite balance of sweetness, chewiness, and a hint of fruity tartness that makes them utterly irresistible. These cookies aren’t just a treat; they’re an experience, especially perfect for embracing the joyful spirit of the baking season.
As the air grows crisp and the festive lights begin to twinkle, our kitchens call to us with the promise of heartwarming aromas and delicious baked goods. And what better way to dive into this glorious season of sweets than with these beautiful White Chocolate Cherry Cookies? They are more than just a recipe; they’re a celebration, a delightful nod to the holidays with their charming red and white colors. Whether you’re planning a grand holiday feast or a cozy evening by the fire, these festive little Maraschino cherry cookies are guaranteed to perfectly adorn your holiday trays and bring smiles to everyone who tries them.
SOME OF THE ITEMS BELOW CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS; I AM A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. I AM ALSO AN AFFILIATE FOR OTHER BRANDS. HOWEVER, I ONLY PROMOTE THINGS THAT I LOVE AND THINK YOU WILL LOVE, TOO. FOR MY ENTIRE DISCLOSURE POLICY PLEASE CLICK HERE.
The Joy of Freaky Friday: A Culinary Exchange Event
Today is an extra special day because it’s Freaky Friday! For those unfamiliar with this exciting event, it’s a unique blog hop that I host five times a year. It brings together some of my favorite blogger friends for a fun, secretive cooking and baking challenge. The premise is simple yet thrilling: each participant is secretly assigned another blogger’s site from which to choose and create a recipe. Everyone then reveals their culinary masterpiece at the exact same time, usually at 8 AM on a designated Friday morning.
Think of it as a festive gift exchange, but with delicious recipes! You don’t know who has picked you, nor what they’ve decided to make from your blog, until the big reveal. The best part? Everyone gains a whole collection of new recipes, and so do you, our wonderful readers! It’s also a fantastic opportunity to discover new blogs and talented creators to follow for even more yummy recipe inspiration. This particular Freaky Friday is our fifth event of the year, a special Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange, making these White Chocolate Cherry Cookies even more timely and delightful.
Selecting the Perfect Cookie Exchange Treat from “Who Needs a Cape?”
For this round of Freaky Friday, I had the pleasure of exploring the fantastic blog Who Needs a Cape?, a culinary treasure trove co-founded by Lori and Heather. They met online years ago and have since built an incredible platform filled with hundreds of amazing recipes. From comforting family dinners to an abundance of baked goods and an impressive selection of cocktails (oh, those cocktails make you swoon!), their blog is a true inspiration.
Choosing just one recipe was incredibly challenging, especially with the added theme of a Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange. I spent a wonderful time browsing through all the delicious offerings on Who Needs a Cape?, knowing I had to select something perfect for holiday sharing. While I did find several other wonderful holiday recipes I’m eager to try later in December, my focus for the cookie exchange ultimately narrowed down to two tempting cookie options: their Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Drop Cookies and these magnificent White Chocolate Cherry Cookies. The festive colors and unique flavor profile of the cherry cookies ultimately won me over!
While deliberating, I also spotted some other delightful holiday treats from their blog worth mentioning. First, their Holiday Sangria looks incredibly fun and delicious, featuring citrus vodka, sparkling Rosé, limes, oranges, and cranberries – truly a festive concoction! Next up for dessert inspiration was their Layered Peppermint Holiday Dessert. With layers of Oreos, chocolate sauce, non-dairy whipped topping, and candy canes, it promises to be the perfect Christmas dessert. These discoveries just further confirmed the amazing quality of recipes you can find on Who Needs a Cape?
The Allure of White Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies
If you’re here, it’s clear which recipe I ultimately chose, and let me tell you, these White Chocolate Cherry Cookies were an absolutely fantastic decision. They have quickly ascended to the top of my list of favorite cookies. Their appeal goes beyond just the creamy white chocolate chips and the vibrant Maraschino cherries; the true star that elevates these cookies to a new level of deliciousness is the almond extract.
There’s something uniquely enchanting about almond extract, especially a high-quality one, that imbues baked goods with an unparalleled depth of flavor. It adds a sophisticated, warm, and slightly sweet note that perfectly complements the cherries and white chocolate. Every year during Christmastime, my Almond Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprints are a must-make, and it’s that very same almond essence that makes them so beloved. The almond extract in these cherry cookies delivers that same irresistible charm, ensuring they’ll be a holiday staple for years to come.
Mastering the Art of a Cookie Exchange
Have you ever had the pleasure of attending or hosting a cookie exchange? It’s a wonderful holiday tradition that I personally cherished for many years. I used to host one annually, a delightful event that ran strong for nearly two decades before taking a short break. It’s been about three years since my last one, but the memories and the joy they brought are still vivid.
Hosting a cookie exchange is surprisingly simple, and the rewards are absolutely amazing. The basic premise is that everyone invited brings one dozen of their chosen cookie or candy for each person attending. So, if you invite ten people, you’ll need to bake ten dozen of your signature treat, packaging them up nicely for each guest. In return, you go home with a dozen of each of their creations, meaning you could leave with ten dozen different varieties of cookies and candies! It’s a fantastic way to diversify your holiday treats without having to bake a dozen different recipes yourself. This makes arranging gorgeous, varied holiday platters so much easier and truly amplifies the festive spirit of any special occasion.
Essential Ingredients for Flawless White Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Crafting the perfect batch of White Chocolate Cherry Cookies begins with understanding the role each ingredient plays. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why:
- Butter and Egg: For optimal results, always bring your butter and egg to room temperature before you start baking. Softened butter creams easily with sugar, creating a light, airy base for your dough, which is crucial for a tender, chewy cookie. Room temperature eggs also emulsify better with other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform batter.
- White and Brown Sugar: This recipe utilizes a harmonious blend of both white granulated sugar and brown sugar. Granulated sugar contributes to crispness and spread, while brown sugar, with its molasses content, adds moisture and chewiness, giving these cookies their delightful soft texture. I typically lean towards dark brown sugar for its richer flavor, but for these cookies, light brown sugar is absolutely perfect, providing just the right balance of sweetness and moisture.
- Salt: A touch of salt is added not just for seasoning but to beautifully enhance all the other flavors in the cookie, balancing the sweetness of the white chocolate and cherries.
- All-Purpose Flour: Standard all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure for these cookies, ensuring they hold their shape while remaining tender.
- Baking Soda: This leavening agent is essential for giving the cookies a slight lift and contributes to their soft, chewy texture. It reacts with the acidic components in the batter (like brown sugar) to create air bubbles.
- Good Quality Almond Extract: This is arguably the most crucial ingredient for the unique and irresistible flavor profile of this easy recipe. Don’t skimp on quality here; a good almond extract makes all the difference, providing a warm, nutty, and slightly sweet aroma that truly makes these cookies special.
- Good Quality White Chocolate Chips: What’s a cookie without its star inclusions? High-quality white chocolate chips melt beautifully, adding a creamy sweetness that complements the tart cherries. If you can’t find chips, chopping a good white chocolate bar into chunks works wonderfully, and sometimes even better, as the irregular pieces create delightful pockets of melted chocolate throughout the moist cookie.
- Maraschino Cherries: These sweet, vibrant cherries are drained and finely chopped to ensure even distribution and bursts of fruity flavor in every bite. Their distinctive flavor and bright red color are signature to these festive cookies. Don’t discard the cherry juice; it’s fantastic for making a cocktail or a smoothie!
Crafting Your Chewy White Chocolate Cherry Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making these delightful White Chocolate Cherry Cookies is a straightforward and enjoyable process. Here’s how to achieve perfection:
First, prepare your workspace. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C) and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, white sugar, brown sugar, room temperature egg, and that essential good quality almond extract. Using an electric mixer (either a stand mixer or a hand mixer) on a low speed, cream these wet ingredients together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well-combined. This creaming process incorporates air, contributing to the cookie’s texture.
In a separate, small bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: baking soda, salt, and all-purpose flour. This step ensures that the leavening and seasoning are evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients in your final dough. Gradually add this flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies.
Finally, gently fold in your drained and chopped Maraschino cherries and white chocolate chips. Mix until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, drop rounded portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between them for spreading.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still soft. Once baked, let them cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes. This brief cooling period helps them set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and chewiness. These cookies also freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for preparing ahead of time!
Love This Recipe? Pin It for Later!
If you’re as enamored with these soft and chewy white chocolate chip cherry cookies as I am, make sure you don’t lose this fantastic recipe! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go so you can easily find it whenever a craving strikes or the holiday baking spirit calls.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chewy Cookies
Understanding the science behind baking can help you achieve the perfect cookie every time. Here are some common questions about making cookies soft and chewy:
- What is the secret to chewy cookies? The primary secret to achieving wonderfully chewy cookies lies in using brown sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which not only adds flavor but also extra moisture to the dough. This moisture helps keep the cookies soft and pliable, contributing to that desirable chewy texture.
- What makes a cookie soft and chewy or crispy? The texture of a cookie (soft, chewy, or crispy) is largely determined by its moisture and fat content, as well as the baking time. Cookies made with a higher ratio of brown sugar and butter tend to be soft and chewy due to their moisture and fat. Conversely, the longer you bake your cookies, the more moisture evaporates, resulting in a crisper texture.
- What is the trick to making soft cookies? One key trick to ensure soft cookies is to bake them in a relatively hot oven, typically around 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C), for a shorter period. This allows the cookies to cook quickly on the outside while retaining moisture in the center, leading to a soft interior.
- Which ingredient makes cookies moist and tender? To make your cookies particularly moist and tender, consider replacing one whole egg with two egg yolks. Egg yolks add extra fat and richness, which contributes significantly to moisture and tenderness. Additionally, ensuring your oven temperature is accurate and diligently avoiding overbaking are crucial steps for moist results.
- Is it OK to use melted butter instead of softened? No, it is generally not okay to directly substitute melted butter for softened butter if your recipe specifically calls for softened. Softened butter is creamed with sugar to create air pockets, which are essential for the cookie’s structure and texture. Melted butter will yield a denser, flatter, and potentially greasier cookie.
- What makes a cookie fluffier? For a fluffier cookie, try using a combination of shortening and butter. Shortening has a higher melting point than butter and contains no water, which helps create a more tender crumb and prevents excessive spreading, resulting in a thicker, fluffier cookie.
Smart Substitutions for Your White Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Recipes are often flexible, and these cookies are no exception. Feel free to make some adjustments to suit your preferences or what you have on hand:
- Almond Extract: If almond extract isn’t available or you’re not a fan, a good-quality vanilla extract can be used as a direct substitute. While the flavor profile will shift, vanilla will still provide a delicious and comforting aroma.
- Maraschino Cherries: Not keen on Maraschino cherries? No problem! You can easily swap them for dried cherries. For that beautiful pink hue in the dough, simply add a touch of pink food coloring.
- White Chocolate: If white chocolate isn’t your preference, bittersweet chocolate makes an excellent alternative. Its deeper, slightly bitter notes will provide a lovely contrast to the sweet cherry and almond flavors. Milk chocolate chips would also be a delicious option for a sweeter, creamier profile.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect White Chocolate Cherry Cookies
To ensure your White Chocolate Cherry Cookies are always at their best, consider these helpful tips:
- Storage: Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain wonderfully fresh and chewy for 3-4 days.
- Freezing: These cookies freeze exceptionally well! You can freeze them for up to 3 months. When defrosting, place the cookies on a paper towel to absorb any potential excess moisture as they come to room temperature. This makes them a perfect make-ahead treat, perhaps even for a delightful Valentine’s Day surprise!
- Add-ins: For an extra layer of texture and flavor, consider adding chopped macadamia nuts to the dough. Their buttery crunch would be a fantastic complement to the cherries and white chocolate. A sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking can also enhance the flavors beautifully.
More Delicious Cherry Recipes to Love
Cherries, in all their forms, are a versatile and delicious ingredient. Whether you have cherry pie filling, fresh cherries from the season, or a jar of vibrant Maraschino cherries, I have a tempting array of cherry recipes to inspire your next baking adventure:
- Chocolate Cherry Brownies
- Cherry Limeade Baked Donuts
- Cherry Dessert
- Shirley Temple Float (pictured above)
- Cherry Cheese Bread
- Cherry Pie Jell-O Salad
- Old Fashioned Cherry Wink Cookies
- Cherry Limeade Sweet Rolls
- Cherry Filled Coffee Cake
Join the Freaky Friday Fun!
As you enjoy these incredible cookies, please take a moment to visit all the other talented bloggers who participated in this festive round of Freaky Friday. So many wonderful recipes have been shared, and you’re sure to find even more inspiration for your holiday baking and beyond:
- An Affair from the Heart – White Chocolate Cherry Cookies (you are here!)
- Bowl Me Over – Easy Shortbread Cookies with Confetti
- Hostess at Heart – Peanut Butter Pretzel Puppy Chow
- LeMoine Family Kitchen – White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
- Life Currents – Chocolate Marshmallow Moonpies
- Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish – Peanut Butter Chocolate Dipped Cookie Dough Truffles
- Mildly Meandering – Cheesecake Bars
- Plattertalk – German Pfeffernusse Cookies
- Seduction in the Kitchen – Chewy Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Take Two Tapas – Turtle Wonton Kisses
- The Foodie Affair – Easy Cut Out Cookies
- West Via Midwest – Mini Eggnog Cakes with Praline Topping
- Who Needs a Cape? – Copy Cat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Forget the everyday oatmeal cookies for a moment. For your next special occasion, or simply when you desire a truly exceptional homemade treat, these soft, chewy white chocolate cherry cookies are an absolute must-bake. Their festive appearance, coupled with their delightful flavor, makes them a standout. Now, let’s get to the detailed White Chocolate Cherry Cookie recipe!
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Print Recipe
White Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoon good quality almond extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
- 1 (10 ounce jar Maraschino Cherries drained and finely chopped
- 2 cups good quality white chocolate chips
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
-
Cream together butter, sugars, egg and almond extract with your mixer until creamy.
-
In a small bowl mix together baking soda, salt, and flour. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients until incorporated.
-
Mix in your chopped Maraschino cherries.
-
Fold in white chocolate chips.
-
Spoon onto prepared cookie sheet.
-
Bake for 8-10 minutes, cool for 3-4 minutes on pan and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on November 30, 2018. It has been updated to improve user experience on January 23, 2023.
