Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Introduction

Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies are the kind of cookies that make a kitchen feel instantly warm, sweet, and a little bit magical. Bursting with juicy cherries and melty chocolate chunks, these pink cookies bring instant joy to any dessert table. At Recipes Charming, I love taking nostalgic flavors and turning them into easy, modern treats—and these Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies are exactly that kind of cozy, feel-good recipe.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Ultra-soft, tender, bakery-style cookies
• A gorgeous natural pink color from cherries
• Perfect balance of sweet cherries + rich chocolate
• No chill time — ready in under 30 minutes
• Fun for Valentine’s Day, parties, bake sales, or anytime you need a pretty cookie

Ingredients Needed

• 1 cup (225g) softened butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100g) brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup maraschino cherry juice
• 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries
• 1 ½ cups chocolate chunks (or chips)

How to Make Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, and maraschino cherry juice. Mix well.
4. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Fold in chopped cherries and chocolate chunks.
7. Scoop dough into balls and place on the baking sheet.
8. Bake 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers look soft.
9. Let cool on the pan 5 minutes before moving to a rack.

How to Serve These Cookies

• Enjoy warm for melty chocolate perfection
• Serve with cold milk, hot cocoa, or coffee
• Dip half of the cookie in melted chocolate for a fancy twist

How to Store Soft Cherry Cookies

• Room temperature: airtight container for 4–5 days
• Refrigerator: up to 1 week
• Freezer: freeze dough balls or baked cookies up to 2 months

Tips for Perfect Cookies

• Pat cherries dry to prevent excess moisture
• Add extra chocolate chunks on top before baking for a bakery look
• Underbake slightly for soft, gooey centers
• If the dough feels too soft, add 2–3 tbsp flour

Helpful Notes

• You can substitute chocolate chunks with white chocolate for extra color contrast
• Skip the cherry juice for less pink intensity
• Add almond extract for a classic cherry-almond flavor

Variations

• White Chocolate Cherry Cookies
• Chocolate-Dipped Cherry Cookies
• Cherry Almond Cookies with almond extract
• Valentine’s Day Pink Heart Cookies using cookie cutters

FAQs

Q: Can I use fresh cherries?
A: Yes, absolutely — but fresh cherries need a little extra prep. Make sure you chop them finely and pat them very dry with paper towels. Fresh cherries release more natural juice than maraschino cherries, and too much moisture can cause the cookies to spread, turn cakey, or lose their vibrant pink color. Drying them well keeps the dough the right texture and helps the cookies stay thick and soft.

Q: Can I make these cookies thicker?
A: Definitely! If you love a thick, bakery-style cookie, just add 2–4 tablespoons of extra flour to give the dough more structure. Then pop the dough into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before baking. Chilling helps the butter firm up so the cookies don’t spread too much in the oven, giving you that soft, puffy, melt-in-your-mouth cookie center.

Q: Why did my cookies spread?
A: The most common reason is extra moisture from the cherries. Even a little excess juice can loosen the dough and cause the cookies to flatten. Make sure to pat the cherry pieces completely dry before mixing them in. Also double-check your butter — if it’s too soft or warm, the cookies will spread faster in the oven. A quick 15–20 minute chill can solve both issues.

Conclusion

These Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies are sweet, soft, and irresistibly pretty. If you love bakery-style cookies with rich chocolate and fruity pops of cherry, this recipe will become a new favorite. I can’t wait for you to try them—don’t forget to share your batch of Soft Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies with me!