Description
Delightful Cherry Cookies featuring a soft, fluffy texture with bursts of sweet and tart dried cherries, enhanced by optional add-ins like white chocolate chips, nuts, and warm cinnamon. Perfectly balanced with vanilla and almond extracts, these cookies are a cozy treat ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
- 1 cup Dried Cherries, chopped
Optional Add-ins
- 1/2 cup White Chocolate Chips or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 1/2 cup Chopped Nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, typically about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined, creating a smooth and aromatic batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon if using to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the chopped dried cherries along with white or semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped nuts if using, ensuring they’re evenly incorporated without crushing.
- Portion Dough: Scoop dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten Dough: Flatten each ball of dough slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers to encourage even baking and shaping.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to firm up for the perfect texture.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use unsalted butter so you can control the salt level.
- Dried cherries can be soaked in warm cherry juice for 10 minutes to enhance their juiciness before folding into dough.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent excessive spreading.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Substitute gluten-free flour blend to make this recipe gluten-free if desired.
