Description
Delight in these festive Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies, featuring a rich cocoa-infused dough studded with sweet maraschino cherries and crowned with a classic chocolate kiss. Perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you crave a sweet, chewy treat with a burst of fruity flavor and a chocolatey finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup chopped maraschino cherries (drained and patted dry)
Topping
- 48 chocolate kiss candies, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract thoroughly to combine all the wet ingredients, ensuring a smooth dough base.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and cocoa.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully incorporated without overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Cherries: Gently fold in the chopped, drained maraschino cherries to distribute their flavor and texture throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets, providing room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft, indicating perfectly baked cookies.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press a chocolate kiss candy into the center of each hot cookie for a melty, festive touch.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For enhanced cherry flavor, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of maraschino cherry juice to the dough during mixing.
- If the dough is too soft to roll comfortably, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to shaping.
- Ensure cherries are well-drained and patted dry to avoid excess moisture in the dough.
