Luscious Chewy Cherry Chocolate Chunk Treats

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies are an absolutely irresistible blend of flavors and textures, featuring plump dried cherries, rich white and milk chocolate, and crunchy pecans. These cookies are wonderfully soft, delightfully chewy, and packed with so much deliciousness in every single bite. For decades, they have been a cherished tradition in my home, especially during the holidays, bringing smiles and warmth to countless gatherings. If you’re searching for a cookie recipe that truly stands out, one that combines classic comfort with an exciting twist, look no further than these spectacular chocolate chunk cookies.

There’s something uniquely magical about a cookie that’s bursting with a variety of complementary ingredients. This loaded Chocolate Chunk Cookie Recipe isn’t just a dessert; it’s a sensory experience. Each component plays a crucial role, creating a symphony of sweet, tart, creamy, and crunchy elements that make these cookies a truly treasured treat. From the moment the aroma fills your kitchen to the last delicious crumb, you’ll understand why this recipe has earned its place as a perennial favorite.

Overhead view of Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies on a round white plate, showcasing their generous chunks of chocolate and dried cherries.

Contents

Why These Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies Are an Absolute Must-Bake

These aren’t just any cookies; they are an extraordinary indulgence that promises to become a staple in your baking repertoire. Here’s why you absolutely need to add this recipe to your list:

An Unparalleled Flavor and Texture Profile: Imagine sinking your teeth into a cookie where nearly every bite offers a delightful surprise. With an abundance of premium add-ins, these cookies deliver an explosion of taste and texture. The harmonious blend of sweet chocolate, tart cherries, and savory nuts creates a complex flavor that is deeply satisfying. You’ll find yourself reaching for another before you’ve finished the first!
The Dreamy Melt of Dual Chocolates: We’ve elevated the classic chocolate chip cookie by incorporating both rich white chocolate and creamy milk chocolate chunks. These generous chunks don’t just add sweetness; they melt beautifully, creating pockets of luscious, dreamy chocolate that perfectly complement the other ingredients. The quality of real chocolate chunks, rather than standard chips, makes a noticeable difference in both taste and mouthfeel.
The Irresistible Zing of Dried Cherries: Forget plain raisins! Dried cherries introduce a wonderful slightly tart counterpoint to the sweetness of the chocolates and cookie dough. Their chewy texture adds another fantastic dimension, making each bite more engaging. I personally swear by tart Montmorency dried cherries, often stocked at places like Trader Joe’s, for their superior flavor and ability to perfectly balance the richness of the cookies. They’re simply divine and lend a vibrant color that makes these cookies even more appealing.
The Perfect Crunch from Toasted Pecans: To complete this multifaceted indulgence, coarsely chopped pecans provide that essential crunch and a subtle, buttery depth. When toasted, their natural oils are released, intensifying their nutty flavor and adding an exquisite aroma. This contrast in texture — soft cookie, chewy cherry, melting chocolate, crisp pecan — ensures a truly memorable eating experience.
Ideal for Sharing and Gifting: This recipe has been shared countless times with friends, family, and neighbors, always to rave reviews. These cookies make a thoughtful and delicious gift for any occasion, especially during the festive season. Their impressive appearance and incredible taste are sure to impress everyone who tries them.
Freezer-Friendly Convenience: One of the best features of these cookies is how well they freeze. Bake a large batch and store some in the freezer for whenever a craving strikes, or for unexpected guests. You’ll always have a homemade treat ready to go, making spontaneous celebrations or quiet indulgence a breeze.

Chewy Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies displayed beautifully on a narrow white tray, highlighting their rich ingredients.

Mastering Your Bake: Expert Tips for Perfect Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Creating these chewy cherry chocolate chunk cookies is a delightful journey, and with a few insider tips, you can ensure your batch turns out perfectly every time. These hints will help you achieve the ideal texture, flavor, and appearance, transforming your baking from good to truly exceptional.

PRO-Tip: Enhance Flavor by Toasting Your Pecans: This simple step makes a world of difference. Toasted pecans offer a deeper, more pronounced nutty flavor and a crisper texture that elevates the entire cookie. You can toast them briefly in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until fragrant, or spread them on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. Watch them carefully, as nuts can burn quickly once they start to brown. Remove them from the heat immediately when you smell that distinct nutty aroma. This small effort yields significant flavor rewards.
Achieve the Perfect Texture with Room Temperature Ingredients: For optimal results, ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. Take them out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to bake. Room temperature butter creams more smoothly with the sugars, creating a lighter, airier base for the dough, while room temperature eggs emulsify better with the fats, resulting in a more uniform batter and a superior cookie texture. This small detail prevents a lumpy batter and ensures your cookies are consistently soft and chewy.
Elevate Your Chocolate Experience by Chopping Your Own: While chocolate chips are convenient, using high-quality chocolate bars and chopping them yourself takes these cookies to the next level. Brands like Ghirardelli offer excellent quality. When you chop a chocolate bar, you get varying sizes of chunks and slivers, which melt at different rates during baking, creating decadent pockets of chocolate throughout the cookie. This not only enhances the flavor but also provides a more luxurious mouthfeel compared to uniform chocolate chips.
PRO-Tip: The Right Mixing Method for Ultimate Chewiness: The secret to wonderfully chewy and dense cookies lies in your mixing technique. Always use the paddle attachment on your stand mixer or mix the dough by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon. Avoid using the whisk attachment, as it incorporates too much air into the batter, which can lead to a more cake-like, less chewy cookie. The goal is a dense, rich dough that bakes into that perfect satisfying chew.
Ensure Uniformity with a Cookie Disher: For consistently sized cookies that bake evenly, a cookie disher (or ice cream scoop) is your best friend. Scooping out uniform portions of dough ensures that all your cookies will be ready at the same time, preventing some from being overbaked while others are still raw. This also contributes to a professional and appealing presentation.
Reshape Warm Cookies for Picture-Perfect Rounds: With a generous amount of chunky add-ins, your cookies might not bake into perfectly symmetrical rounds. Don’t fret! Immediately after removing the baking sheet from the oven, while the cookies are still warm and pliable, use the back of a spatula or a round cookie cutter slightly larger than your cookies to gently tap and shape them back into perfect circles. This simple trick gives them a professional, bakery-worthy appearance.
Add a Professional Touch with Reserved Toppings: For an extra special presentation, reserve a small portion of your chopped chocolate and dried cherries. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, while they are still hot and soft, gently press these extra pieces onto the tops of the cookies. For the cherries, consider cutting them in half and pressing them in cut-side down. This trick ensures that every cookie looks as delicious as it tastes, with vibrant pops of color and enticing chunks of chocolate visible on the surface.
Don’t Overbake: The key to soft and chewy cookies is to remove them from the oven just when the edges are set and lightly golden, but the centers still look slightly soft. They will continue to cook and set as they cool on the baking sheet. Overbaking is the quickest way to dry out your cookies and make them hard.
The Magic of Parchment Paper: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking, ensures even baking, and makes for effortless cleanup. It also helps the bottoms of your cookies bake perfectly without getting too dark.

Overhead view of a small bowl full of perfectly baked cherry chocolate chunk cookies.

Storage, Freezing, and Serving Suggestions

Once you’ve baked a batch of these glorious Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies, you’ll want to make sure they last – though resisting eating them all at once can be the biggest challenge! Here’s how to store them for maximum freshness and a few ideas for serving.

Storing Baked Cookies

To keep your cookies wonderfully soft and chewy, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their quality and deliciousness for about 3-4 days. For an extra touch of freshness, you can place a slice of bread inside the container with the cookies; the bread will absorb moisture, helping to keep your cookies soft.

Freezing Baked Cookies

These cookies freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for meal prep or unexpected cravings. Once completely cooled, arrange the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours). Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, layering them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month (though, as mentioned, many find they are still delicious much longer!). To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature or warm them slightly in the microwave for a few seconds for that “fresh out of the oven” experience.

Freezing Cookie Dough

For ultimate convenience, you can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough. Scoop the dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm. Once solid, transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls on a prepared baking sheet and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Serving Suggestions

These cookies are fantastic on their own, but here are a few ways to elevate the experience:

Classic Pairing: Serve them with a tall glass of cold milk or a warm cup of coffee or tea. The simple combination is always a winner.
Dessert Delight: Crumble them over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an instant decadent dessert.
Gifting: Arrange them beautifully in a decorative tin or box tied with a ribbon for a thoughtful homemade gift that everyone will appreciate.
Holiday Spreads: They make a stunning addition to any holiday cookie platter, especially with their festive colors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have more questions about making these incredible Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies? Here are some common queries and their answers to help you along your baking journey.

Can I use different types of nuts? Yes, absolutely! While pecans offer a wonderful buttery flavor and crunch, you can certainly experiment with other nuts. Walnuts would be a fantastic alternative, providing a slightly more robust, earthy flavor. Chopped almonds could also work, offering a delicate crunch. Just remember to toast any nuts you choose for enhanced flavor.
What if I don’t have dried tart cherries? Can I use other dried fruits? Tart Montmorency cherries are highly recommended for their unique balance, but if you can’t find them, other dried fruits can be substituted. Dried cranberries (craisins) would be an excellent choice, offering a similar tartness. You could also try chopped dried apricots or even regular raisins, although the tartness of cherries is what truly makes this recipe distinctive.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free? While this recipe is not originally gluten-free, you can often adapt it by using a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Results can vary with gluten-free flours, so it might take a little experimentation to achieve the perfect texture.
Why are my cookies flat/cakey/hard? There are several reasons this might happen:
- Flat cookies: Your butter might have been too warm or melted, or you might have over-creamed the butter and sugar, incorporating too much air. Using softened but not melted butter is key.
- Cakey cookies: This usually means too much air was incorporated into the dough. Ensure you use the paddle attachment or mix by hand, and avoid overmixing the flour once it’s added.
- Hard cookies: Most commonly, hard cookies are a result of overbaking. Keep a close eye on them and remove them from the oven when the edges are just golden and the centers still look slightly soft. They will firm up as they cool. Also, using too much flour can lead to a tougher cookie.
How long do these cookies stay fresh? When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies will remain fresh and delicious for about 3-4 days. For longer storage, refer to the freezing instructions above.
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate chunks? Yes, you can. However, using chopped chocolate bars creates those wonderful irregular pockets of melted chocolate that make these cookies truly special. Chocolate chips are designed to hold their shape during baking, so they won’t give you the same gooey melt.

Chewy Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Prep Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
12 minutes

Total Time
32 minutes

Yield
36 cookies

A loaded chewy cookie that’s filled with two kinds of chocolate, nuts and dried cherries!

Ingredients

½ cup butter, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup coarsely chopped white chocolate
½ cup coarsely chopped milk chocolate
1 cup dried tart cherries
½ cup coarsely chopped pecans (roasted is preferred)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand mixer, beat together the softened butter and both sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy (typically 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until just combined and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Fold in the dried cherries, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and pecans either in the mixer on very low speed or by hand with a sturdy wooden spoon, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Using a cookie disher (or a tablespoon), scoop out consistent-sized dough balls (about 1.5 tablespoons each) and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gently flatten the mounds of dough slightly with the heel of your hand or a spatula.
Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and set, but the centers still appear slightly soft. Do not overbake to ensure the cookies remain chewy. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Store these delectable cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and chewiness. For longer storage, they freeze exceptionally well; simply place cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to a month (though they often stay delicious even longer!).

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