These Chocolate Cherry Cookies are a delicious blend of rich chocolate and sweet cherries, perfect for any occasion. Quick and easy to make, they’re a family favorite everyone will love!
In a medium bowl, mix the sugar cookie mix and the cocoa with a fork until well combined.
Using a hand mixer, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and egg together in a large bowl. It will take about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed until a stiff dough forms. You may need to use a sturdy spatula to mix in the last bits of dry ingredients if the dough is too stiff for your mixer.
Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet using a small cookie scoop. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, use the back of a teaspoon to make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Set them aside to cool.
While the cookies are cooling, place the heavy cream in the microwave for 30 seconds until heated to boiling. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate into a small sandwich bag and snip the corner to make a piping bag. Set aside.
When the cookies are cool, place a small amount of the melted chocolate in the well, then place a maraschino cherry inside each cavity. Drizzle the remaining chocolate on each cookie. Let the chocolate set for 5 minutes or until firm before serving.
Notes
Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper helps the maraschino cherry chocolate cookies bake evenly and prevents them from spreading too much. It also makes cleanup a breeze!
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cookies at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
If you are cooling your cookies on a wire rack, you can place the rack over a piece of parchment paper on your counter, and when you drizzle your ganache, the excess drips will fall on the parchment paper and make clean up much easier.