Chocolate Cherry Cookies Easy Sweet Recipe

A Little Story About These Cookies

My granddaughter, Lily, calls these our “magic cookies.” She is seven. One rainy afternoon, we made them together.

She stirred the chocolate pot so seriously. Her little brow was all furrowed. I still laugh at that. The kitchen smelled like a sweet dream.

Why This Recipe is a Keeper

This recipe matters because it brings people together. It is not fussy. You just stir and drop. That is the best kind of cooking.

It also teaches you to be patient. You have to let the cookies cool a bit before you make the little thumbprint. Good things take a little time.

Let’s Make the Dough

First, heat your oven to 350 degrees. Now, get a saucepan. Put in the chocolate, sweet milk, and butter.

Stir it all over low heat until it is smooth. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Then, mix in the flour, a little at a time. Finally, fold in the chopped red cherries.

The Fun Part: Shaping and Baking

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased pan. You should get about three dozen cookies. Now, pop them in the oven for about nine minutes.

While they bake, mix the powdered sugar and milk for the glaze. Keep it smooth. Fun fact: The little thumbprint you make holds the sweet glaze like a tiny swimming pool!

Your Turn to Share

What is your favorite cookie to bake with someone you love? Is it chocolate chip or something else? Tell me about it.

Do you like a cherry on top, or would you use a different fruit? I am curious. And the most important question: do you eat the first cookie warm, or do you wait?

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
All-Purpose Flour	1 cup
Butter	1/2 cup	If cold, cut into cubes
Sweetened Condensed Milk	1 can (14 oz)
Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels	1 bag (10 oz)
Chopped Red Candied Cherries	1/2 cup	For the cookie dough
Powdered Sugar	1/2 cup	For the glaze
Milk	2 Tb	For the glaze
Whole Red Candied Cherries	36-40	For topping

My Chocolate Cherry Cookie Hugs

I have made these cookies every Christmas since my children were small. They are like little chocolate hugs with a sweet cherry surprise. My grandson calls them his “favorite treasure cookies.” I think you will love them too. They are wonderfully simple to make together.

Step 1: First, heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Then, find a good saucepan. Put your chocolate morsels, the whole can of sweet milk, and the butter in it. Warm it all on the stove over low heat. You must stir it the whole time. I still laugh at that. I once got a phone call and forgot to stir. We had a funny, lumpy mess.

Step 2: Keep stirring until everything is smooth and shiny. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Now, take the pan off the heat. Add your flour, just a half-cup at a time. Stir it in until you can’t see white streaks anymore. (A hard-learned tip: adding the flour slowly stops it from getting lumpy). The dough will be very thick and fudgy.

Step 3: Now for the fun part! Stir in your chopped red cherries. They look like little jewels, don’t they? Grease a cookie sheet with a little butter. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the sheet. You should get about three dozen cookies. Do you like chewy or cakey cookies? Share below! Bake them for just nine to ten minutes. They will look soft, but that’s perfect.

Step 4: While they bake, make the simple glaze. Mix the powdered sugar and two tablespoons of milk. Stir until it is completely smooth. Let the cookies cool for a minute when they come out. Then, use your thumb to gently press a little dip in each cookie top. This makes a tiny bowl for our sweet glaze.

Step 5: Drizzle your glaze over the warm cookies. I like to use a small spoon for this. Finally, place one whole candied cherry right in the middle of each cookie. It makes them look so special and happy. Let them sit until the glaze sets. Then, they are ready for a taste of pure joy.

Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: About 36-40 cookies
Category: Dessert, Cookies

Three Sweet Twists to Try

This recipe is wonderful as it is. But you can also play with it. I love trying little changes. It keeps things exciting in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas my family enjoys.

Nutty Buddy: Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the dough. It gives a nice little crunch.

Orange Zest Zing: Stir in a teaspoon of orange zest with the cherries. The chocolate and orange taste like a fancy candy.

Peanut Butter Swirl: Drop a tiny dot of peanut butter on each cookie before baking. It makes a delicious swirl inside.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Serving Them Up with Style

These cookies are a treat all on their own. But I think food tastes better when it looks pretty. For a special touch, place them on a vintage plate. The red cherries look so cheerful. You could also pack a few in a small box. Give them to a friend who needs a sweet lift.

What should you drink with them? A cold glass of milk is always the best friend to a cookie. For the grown-ups, a small glass of cherry port wine is a lovely match. It makes the cherry flavor sing. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Chocolate Cherry Cookies Happy

These cookies stay soft for days in a sealed container. You can also freeze them for a sweet treat later. Just layer them between wax paper in a freezer bag.

I once sent a whole batch to my grandson. He froze them and ate one a week. He said it made his whole month sweeter.

Batch cooking saves you time on busy days. It means a fresh, homemade cookie is always close by. This matters because everyone needs a little joy.

Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Cookie Troubles and Easy Fixes

Is your batter too sticky? Just add one more tablespoon of flour. This will make it easier to drop onto the sheet.

I remember when my first batch spread too much. My kitchen smelled wonderful but the cookies were flat. The butter was probably too warm.

If your glaze is too thick, add a drop of milk. If it is too thin, add a bit more sugar. Getting the texture right makes your cookies look lovely.

Fixing small problems builds your cooking confidence. It also makes your food taste exactly how you want. A good result makes you feel proud.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Cookie Questions Answered

Q: Can I make these gluten-free?

A: Yes! Use your favorite gluten-free flour blend. It works just as well.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead?

A: You can refrigerate the dough for one day. Let it warm up a bit before baking.

Q: What can I use instead of cherries?

A: Dried cranberries or chopped nuts are a nice swap. Fun fact: I used walnuts once and everyone loved them.

Q: Can I make a smaller batch?

A: Absolutely. Just cut all the ingredients in half. You will get about eighteen cookies.

Q: Any other tips?

A: A small cookie scoop makes every cookie the same perfect size.

Which tip will you try first?

Bake, Share, and Enjoy

I hope you love baking these cookies as much as I do. They are a little piece of my kitchen to share with you.

I would be so happy to see your creations. Please share a photo with all your friends.

Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Happy cooking!

—Grace Ellington.