Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

You can leave out the cherries if desired, although the yield will be slightly smaller. For the best soft texture, be sure not to over bake these cookies; they are done when the tops look completely dry.
PREP:
2 hours 30 minutes
BAKE:
10 minutes
TOTAL:
3 hours
YIELD:
20
Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 cup Dried tart cherries
  • 1 teaspoon Kirsch
  • 1 teaspoon Water
  • 1 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups Confectioners' sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Dutch process cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
DIRECTIONS:

Pulse until finely ground, about 12 long pulses:
Dried tart cherries

Place in a microwave safe bowl with:
Kirsch
Water

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and microwave 1 minute. Let cool to room temperature.

Place in large bowl and beat until light:
Unsalted butter, softened
Confectioners' sugar

Add one at a time:
Eggs
Vanilla

Add and mix until just incorporated:
Flour
Dutch process cocoa
Vanilla extract

Stir in cooled cherries until thoroughly incorporated. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. (If dough chills longer, you may need to let it soften slightly before rolling to prevent cracking.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough out on a lightly floured counter to 1/4-inch thickness and cut, then transfer cookies onto cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper or silicone liners. Brush tops lightly with water, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly colored. Let cookies cool slightly on cookie sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To decorate, spread with White Chocolate Ganache, let cool, and drizzle or write with melted semisweet chocolate.

Enjoy!