Description
These irresistible Black Forest Cookies combine rich dark chocolate and tart cherries into a soft, chewy cookie that is perfect for holidays, birthdays, or any festive occasion. Easy to make with simple pantry staples, this recipe yields flavorful cookies bursting with juicy cherry bits and melty chocolate pockets, delivering the classic Black Forest cake taste in a delightful handheld treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup dried or maraschino cherries, chopped if large
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks (semi-sweet or bittersweet recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup and perfect baking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside to ensure your cookies will have even texture and flavor.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a mixer, beat unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, creating a creamy base for your cookie dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla extract. This helps bind the dough and infuses aromatic flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and keeping cookies tender.
- Fold in Cherries and Chocolate: Gently fold in your dried or maraschino cherries and chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed for flavorful bites.
- Scoop and Bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This helps them firm up without losing softness.
Notes
- Use quality chocolate chips or chunks for a richer taste.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies tender, not tough.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to control spreading and enhance flavor depth.
- Don’t skip adding salt as it balances sweetness and highlights chocolate richness.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookie sizes and even baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Black Forest Cookies, chocolate cherry cookies, holiday cookies, chewy chocolate cookies, festive cookies