Midwestern HomeLife

  • Recipes
  • Holiday Recipe eBooks
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Recipe eBooks
  • 🥞FREE Brunch eBook!
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Recipe eBooks
    • 🥞FREE Brunch eBook!
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • How to Make Cinnamon Icing
    • baked bbq salmon on a white plate with broccoli.
      Baked BBQ Salmon
    • spoonful of no cook bbq sauce over a mason jar of bbq sauce.
      No-Cook BBQ Sauce (Sweet & Tangy)
    • blackened salmon Caesar salad in a white bowl.
      Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
    • blackened baked salmon filet and green beans on a white plate.
      Blackened Baked Salmon
    • microwave steamed green beans in a white bowl.
      How to Steam Green Beans in the Microwave
    • spoonful of caesar salad dressing in foreground with jar of dressing, lettuce, parmesan, and croutons in background.
      Caesar Salad Dressing (No Raw Eggs)
    • ciabatta croutons in a mason jar.
      Ciabatta Croutons (Garlic & Parmesan)
    • blackened Cajun seasoning ingredients on a white plate.
      Blackened Cajun Seasoning
    • air fryer whole chicken on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Whole Chicken
    • cooked bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet.
      How to Cook Bacon in the Oven (with Parchment Paper)
    • spoon lifting up a spoonful of hummus dressing over a white bowl.
      Hummus Dressing Recipe
    Home » Recipes » Cookies, Brownies & Bars

    Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Cookies (Slice & Bake)

    Published: Sep 16, 2022 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    stack of chocolate cherry cookies on white countertop
    chocolate cherry cookies on wire rack
    stack of chocolate cherry cookies on white countertop
    chocolate cherry cookies on wire rack

    Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Cookies are soft, brownie-like slice and bake cookies studded with sweet maraschino cherries, pistachios, and white chocolate. Perfect sweet treat for your Christmas cookie trays, holiday season gift giving, and Valentine's Day. 

    Try Gingerbread Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting, Easy Million Dollar Bars, and BIG Oatmeal Craisin Cookies next! 

    stack of chocolate cherry cookies on white countertop.

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more FREE recipes and tips from my Midwestern kitchen to yours!

    Save Recipe

    By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Midwestern HomeLife

    Jump to:
    • You're Going to Love These
    • Ingredients
    • Optional Ingredients for Decorating
    • How to Make Chocolate Maraschino Cookies 
    • To Make White Chocolate Dipped Cookies
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Delicious Cookie Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    Chocolate maraschino cherry cookies are pretty and festive with a soft texture and the most delicious combination of flavors and textures.

    These soft, brownie-like cookies are intensely chocolatey and filled with chewy chopped cherries, crunchy roasted pistachios, and sweet white chocolate. And so easy to make. Just roll the dough into logs and freeze until you're ready to bake cookies!

    You're Going to Love These

    • Decadent dark chocolate cookies -- a chocoholics dream
    • Soft and chewy cherry cookies with pistachios and white chocolate
    • Easy recipe for freezer slice and bake cookies, perfect for last-minute baking
    • Impressive and pretty cookie for Christmas time

    Ingredients

    See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients for this chocolate maraschino cherry cookies recipe.

    chocolate cherry cookies ingredients.

    Dark cocoa powder. I use Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder for the deep dark intense color and flavor. Natural unsweetened cocoa powder also works.

    Unsalted butter. Use softened room temperature butter so it will blend well with the rest of the ingredients.

    Brown sugar. I love dark brown sugar because it adds rich molasses flavor. Light brown sugar also works. 

    Room temperature egg. Let the egg come to room temperature -- or place it in warm water for about 10 minutes. If you add a cold egg to warm ingredients, it can curdle the batter.

    Maraschino cherries. Maraschino cherries add ruby red color and sweet cherry flavor to the bitter chocolate. There's even a little almond extract in the maraschino cherry juice, so you'll notice that flavor and fragrance, as well.

    Chopped pistachios. Roasted, salted pistachios are mild, sweet, and nutty -- and a pretty green color.

    Chopped white chocolate. I like the stunning color contrast and flavor combo of white chocolate with cherries and pistachios. I use a Ghirardelli white chocolate bar, but you can also chop white chocolate chips into smaller pieces. Miniature chocolate chips will also taste delicious, you just won't be able to see them as well. 

    Optional Ingredients for Decorating

    White chocolate. If possible, use a premium brand of white chocolate for melting and dipping the cookies. White chocolate chips don't melt quite as smoothly, but they will work.

    Shortening. I prefer to use shortening for thinning melted chocolate, but you can also use coconut oil or vegetable oil.

    Chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, colored sugars, sprinkles. Sprinkle on your favorite doo-dads while the melted chocolate is still wet.

    How to Make Chocolate Maraschino Cookies 

    chocolate cherry cookie dough in white bowl.

    Step 1: In a large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract scraping down the side of the bowl as you go.

    dry ingredients with cherries, chocolate, and pistachios in clear mixing bowl.

    Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk or sift all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Add the cherries, pistachios, and white chocolate to the flour mixture and stir until combined.

    chocolate cherry cookie dough in white bowl.

    Step 3: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.

    Be careful not to overmix.

    cookie dough rolled in parchment paper with hand pushing a wooden spatula against the parchment paper.

    Step 4: Divide dough into thirds. Place one third of the dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Use wet fingers to shape dough into a log. 

    Fold parchment paper over the log and use your hands or the flat edge of a spatula to shape the dough into a round log, about 1 ½ to 2 inches around by 6 to 8 inches long. 

    hand holding a slice of chocolate cherry cookie dough.

    Step 5: Slice the cookie dough with a very sharp knife into ½" thick slices. Place slices onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Work with one dough log at a time, keep the others in the freezer. 

    chocolate cherry cookies on wire rack.

    Step 6:  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are no longer shiny. Cool cookies for 2 minutes on the sheet pan, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. 

    To Make White Chocolate Dipped Cookies

    chocolate cherry cookies dipped in white chocolate.

    Step 1: Melt white chocolate and shortening in the microwave. 

    Dip each cookie into the white chocolate and use a fork to remove any excess chocolate from the bottom of the cookie. 

    Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

    white chocolate dipped chocolate cherry cookies decorated with sprinkles, sugars, nuts, and mini chocolate chips.

    Step 2:  If desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, colored sugars, or sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Chill the cookies until the chocolate has set.

    Expert Tips

    • The flat edge of a wooden spatula works great for shaping the dough in parchment paper into a round log. 
    • Quarter the maraschino cherries and pat them dry with a paper towel to keep from adding too much moisture to the cookies
    • Chop the pistachios and white chocolate into small pieces to make slicing the frozen logs of cookie dough easier
    • Use parchment paper instead of wax paper or plastic wrap to roll the logs of cookie dough. It's firmer and makes transporting and storing much easier.
    • To keep the logs of cookie dough round, store them in a cut-open paper towel tube in the freezer or rest them on something that will support the shape, like a bag of rice.
    • If your dough logs have flat edges after you roll them, let them freeze slightly to let them firm up a bit. Roll out any flat edges, then let them freeze the rest of the way.

    Recipe FAQs

    How long do maraschino cherry cookies last?

    You can store cherry chocolate cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or a week in the fridge. 

    Can you freeze chocolate cherry cookies?

    Yes! Freeze the baked cookies tightly wrapped in plastic in a freezer-safe container for a couple of months. 

    Can you freeze chocolate maraschino slice and bake cookie dough? 

    Yes. Keep the cookie dough wrapped in parchment. Wrap the logs in a double layer of plastic and a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze the log of homemade cherry cookie dough for up to 2 months.

    How do you slice chocolate cherry cookie dough?

    Keep the logs frozen until ready to use. Use a sharp knife, place your palm on top, and slowly and evenly press down. This will help avoid splintering the dough.

    chocolate cherry cookies on wire rack.

    More Delicious Cookie Recipes

    • frosted gingerbread cookies on parchment paper
      Soft Gingerbread Cookies without Molasses
    • Oatmeal Craisin Cookie
      BIG, Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
    • cranberry almond macaroons with white chocolate drizzle on a white countertop
      Cranberry Almond Macaroons
    • Million Dollar Bars

    💌Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    stack of chocolate cherry cookies on white countertop

    Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Cookies (Slice & Bake)

    Cara Lanz
    Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Cookies are soft and brownie-like slice and bake cookies studded with sweet maraschino cherries, pistachios, and white chocolate. Perfect for your Christmas cookie trays, holiday season gift giving, and Valentine's Day.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Freezing Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 45
    Calories 89 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the Chocolate Cherry Cookies

    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup dark cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup butter, room temperature 1 stick
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup white sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup maraschino cherries, quartered pat dry with paper towels
    • ⅓ cup chopped white chocolate
    • ⅓ cup chopped pistachios

    For Dipping & Decorating, optional

    • 1 ½ cups chopped white chocolate
    • 1 ½ teaspoons shortening
    • chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, decorative sugar, sprinkles for decorating
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and egg.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk or sift the flour, cocoa powder, and salt together. Stir in the cherries, ⅓ cup chopped white chocolate, and chopped pistachios.
    • On low speed, mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
    • Divide the dough in thirds. Place one third of the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Use wet fingers to roughly shape the dough into a log.
      Fold the parchment paper over the log and use it to roll the dough into a 1 ½ to 2-inch by 6 to 8-inch log. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
    • Freeze the dough logs for at least 4 hours. I freeze mine overnight.
    • Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • Slice the frozen dough into ½-inch thick slices. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the tops are no longer shiny. Be careful not to overbake; check them early.
    • Let the cookies cool on the baking pan for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.

    Decorate the Cookies

    • Place 1 ½ cups chopped white chocolate and the shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat and stir in 10-second increments until it is completely melted and smooth.
    • Working quickly, dip each cookie into the white chocolate. Use a fork to remove drips from the bottom of the cookie and place it on parchment.
      Reheat the chocolate in the microwave, as necessary.
    • Decorate cookies with mini chips, chopped nuts, sugars, and sprinkles while the white chocolate is still wet.
    • Chill the cookies until the chocolate has set.

    Notes

    • Chop the pistachios and white chocolate into small pieces to make slicing the frozen logs of cookie dough easier
    • Use parchment paper to roll the logs of cookie dough. It's firmer than wax paper or plastic wrap, will hold the round shape better, and makes transporting and storing much easier.
    • To keep the logs of cookie dough round, store them in a cut-open paper towel tube in the freezer or rest them on something that will support the shape, like a bag of rice.
    • If dough logs have flat edges after you roll them, freeze the logs slightly to let them firm up a bit, roll out any flat edges on the counter, and let them freeze the rest of the way.
    • Use a very sharp knife to slice the cookie dough.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 49mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Soft Gingerbread Cookies without Molasses
    Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies »
    • Facebook
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

    Whether you're looking for a fast and easy dinner recipe, something yummy for a potluck or holiday gathering, or just a little inspiration, I hope you'll find something you love here.

    Dig in!

    More about me →

    Easy Brunch Recipes ebook cover.

    FREE eBook

    Easy Brunch Recipes with sweet and savory favorites!

    Let's go!

    Spring Baking Recipes

    • two Strawberry Brownies ona white plate in front of a platter of strawberry brownies
      Strawberry Brownies

    • side view of white plate with piece of pineapple cream cheese pie topped with toasted coconut and a blackberry
      No Bake Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie

    • side view of piece of strawberry pie topped with whipped cream and a strawberry
      No Bake Strawberry Pie with Jello

    • lemon bar with graham cracker crust on white plate with cutting board with bars in background
      Easy Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust

    • two carrot cake mix bars on a a white counter top.
      Carrot Cake Mix Cookie Bars

    • slices of lemon blackberry bread on a white plate
      Lemon Blackberry Bread

    Most Popular Recipes

    • piece of chocolate caramel poke cake on white plate
      Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

    • Million Dollar Bars

    • ground beef vegetable soup recipe in a white bowl
      Easy Ground Beef Vegetable Soup

    • pot roast with onion soup mix, potatoes, and carrots on a white platter
      Lipton Onion Soup Pot Roast Recipe

    • taco spaghetti in stainless steel skillet
      One Pot Taco Spaghetti

    • oven baked teriyaki chicken thighs on a white plate
      Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-in)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • About
    featured on logos

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 MIDWESTERNHOMELIFE Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.