Name: Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 large egg yolk; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice (from the jar); 1 cup maraschino cherries, well-drained, patted dry, and chopped; 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Soft, bakery-style chocolate chip cookies loaded with juicy maraschino cherries? Yes, please. These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies are everything you love about a classic chocolate chip cookie, with bright pops of cherry in every bite. The edges bake up lightly crisp, while the centers stay soft, thick, and just a little gooey from all that melted chocolate.

They look gorgeous on a plate, too—golden cookies dotted with ruby-red cherries and glossy chocolate chips. Whether you’re baking for a holiday cookie tray, a Valentine’s treat, or just a cozy night at home, these cookies feel a little extra special without adding a ton of work.

Why You’ll Love These Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies take familiar chocolate chip cookie dough and give it a fun twist with maraschino cherries and a splash of cherry juice for extra flavor. You still get that classic caramelized, buttery dough, but every bite has sweet-tart cherry pieces that cut through the richness.

They’re easy enough for a weeknight bake but impressive enough for parties, potlucks, and cookie exchanges. The dough doesn’t require any fancy equipment beyond a hand mixer, and a short chill helps keep the cookies thick and chewy. Plus, the recipe makes a generous batch, so there’s plenty to share—or stash in the freezer for later.

What Kind of Cherries and Chocolate Work Best in These Cookies?

For the brightest flavor and color, use jarred maraschino cherries packed in syrup, not fresh sweet cherries. The syrupy maraschinos hold their shape in the oven and deliver that classic cherry flavor you expect in nostalgic desserts. Just make sure to drain them well and pat them very dry so they don’t make the dough too wet.

Semisweet chocolate chips balance the sweetness of the cherries and dough, but you can mix in a handful of mini chips or dark chocolate chunks if you like extra chocolate in every bite. A mix of regular chips and minis gives you both big pockets of melted chocolate and a little chocolate in every crumb.

Ingredients for the Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Before you start mixing, it helps to know what each ingredient is doing in the dough so you can get the best texture and flavor from your cookies.

All-purpose flour – Provides structure so the cookies bake up thick and chewy instead of flat and greasy.

Baking soda – Gives the dough a gentle lift in the oven, helping the cookies spread just enough while staying soft.

Cornstarch – Adds tenderness and a slightly softer, bakery-style crumb.

Fine sea salt – Balances the sweetness from the cherries and chocolate and enhances all the other flavors.

Unsalted butter, softened – Brings rich, buttery flavor and helps create that crisp edge with a soft center. Using unsalted butter lets you control the overall saltiness.

Light brown sugar – Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor that keeps the cookies chewy.

Granulated sugar – Helps the edges caramelize and keeps the texture from becoming too dense.

Large egg + egg yolk – The egg binds the dough, while the extra yolk adds richness and chew.

Pure vanilla extract – Rounds out the flavors and pairs beautifully with both chocolate and cherry.

Maraschino cherry juice – A spoonful of the syrup from the jar boosts cherry flavor throughout the cookie dough.

Maraschino cherries, drained, patted dry, and chopped – Provide juicy bursts of cherry flavor and those pretty red spots in every cookie.

Semisweet chocolate chips – Give classic chocolate chip cookie flavor and balance the sweetness of the cherries.

Mini chocolate chips (optional) – Scatter extra chocolate into every bite and help the tops of the cookies look extra loaded.

How To Make the Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Taking a few extra minutes to dry the cherries and chill the dough makes a big difference in how these cookies bake. Follow these simple steps for thick, chewy cookies every time.

Step 1: Prep the cherries and pans

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats so the cookies release easily. Drain the maraschino cherries very well, then spread them on a double layer of paper towels and pat them completely dry. Chop the cherries into small pieces so they distribute evenly through the dough.

Step 2: Whisk together the dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and fine sea salt until everything is evenly combined. This helps keep the leavening from clumping so the cookies bake evenly.

Step 3: Cream the butter and sugars

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for 2–3 minutes, until the mixture looks light and fluffy. Proper creaming adds air to the dough and helps create a soft, chewy texture.

Step 4: Add the egg, yolk, vanilla, and cherry juice

Beat in the egg and extra yolk one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the pure vanilla extract and maraschino cherry juice until the mixture is smooth and creamy. The dough may have a light pink tint—that’s perfect.

Step 5: Mix in the dry ingredients

Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Overmixing at this stage can make the cookies tough, so stop as soon as the dough comes together.

Step 6: Fold in the cherries and chocolate

Use a spatula to gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries, semisweet chocolate chips, and mini chocolate chips (if using). The dough will be soft but thick. If you’d like, set aside a small handful of chocolate chips and cherry pieces to press on top of the cookies before baking.

Step 7: Chill the dough

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. Chilling helps the flour hydrate and keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, especially with the juicy cherries.

Step 8: Scoop and bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a 1 1/2-tablespoon cookie scoop or rounded measuring tablespoon to portion the chilled dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the dough balls about 2 inches apart. Gently press a few extra chocolate chips and cherry pieces on top of each mound for a bakery-style look.

Bake for 10–12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the edges are set and lightly golden but the centers still look slightly soft. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.

Step 9: Cool and enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm while the chocolate is still melty, or let them cool for neater edges and a chewier texture.

Serving and Storing Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

This batch makes about 24 medium-sized cookies, which comfortably serves 8–10 people if everyone has a couple. They’re perfect for after-school snacks, dessert after an easy dinner, or adding something colorful to a holiday cookie platter.

Serve them slightly warm for the ultimate gooey chocolate experience, or at room temperature if you’re packing them into lunchboxes or cookie tins. A glass of cold milk, a cup of coffee, or hot cocoa all pair nicely with the rich chocolate and sweet cherries.

To store, let the cookies cool completely, then place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. You can also freeze the scooped dough balls and bake them straight from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.

What to Serve With Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Cold milk or chocolate milk

A classic cookie partner that never fails, especially for kids (and grown-ups who still dunk their cookies).

Hot coffee or espresso

The slight bitterness of coffee balances the sweetness of the chocolate and cherries beautifully.

Vanilla or cherry ice cream

Turn your cookies into a quick dessert by sandwiching a scoop of ice cream between two cookies or serving crumbled cookies over a bowl.

Hot cocoa or mocha

On chilly evenings, pair these cookies with a mug of hot cocoa or mocha for a cozy movie-night treat.

Fresh berries or a simple fruit salad

A small bowl of fresh berries alongside the cookies adds a light, refreshing contrast to the rich dough.

Whipped cream or chocolate mousse cups

Serve the cookies with little cups of whipped cream or chocolate mousse and let everyone dip or crumble the cookies in.

Holiday snack board

Add them to a dessert or snack board with pretzels, nuts, and other cookies for parties and gatherings.

If you love these Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies, you’ll probably enjoy these other sweet treats from Nora Nosh:

Banana Bread Cookies – Soft, cake-like cookies with cozy banana bread flavor and a touch of spice. https://noranosh.com/banana-bread-cookies/
Whipped Shortbread Cookies – Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that are perfect for any holiday cookie tray. https://noranosh.com/whipped-shortbread-cookies-recipe/
No-Bake Preacher Cookies – A quick, stovetop cookie loaded with oats and chocolate when you need dessert fast. https://noranosh.com/no-bake-preacher-cookies/
Cherry Chocolate Cheesecake – A rich, creamy cheesecake topped with cherries and chocolate—ideal when you’re craving something extra decadent. https://noranosh.com/cherry-chocolate-cheesecake/
Chocolate Cherry Cream Pie – Silky chocolate filling and cherries in a flaky crust for a show-stopping dessert. https://noranosh.com/chocolate-cherry-cream-pie/

Save This Pin For Later

📌 Save these Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies to your dessert or baking Pinterest board so you can find them again whenever the craving hits.

When you bake a batch, let me know how yours turned out—did you stick with semisweet chocolate chips, or mix in some dark chocolate or minis? Did you add extra cherries on top for that over-the-top bakery look?

I love hearing how you make these recipes your own. Questions are always welcome—let’s help each other bake smarter and enjoy sweeter treats at home.

Explore beautifully curated health-boosting drinks and even more dessert inspiration on Nora Nosh Recipes—check out more of my daily creations on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/noranoshrecipes/