These easy Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies are a delicious treat to add to your holiday cookie trays this year. Everyone will be delighted to find a cherry hidden beneath a layer of delicious chocolate! They are perfect for Christmas time or even Valentine’s Day.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY COOKIES

Published: Nov 27, 2023 by Jocelyn · As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 36 Comments

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These easy Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies are a delicious treat to add to your holiday cookie trays this year. Everyone will be delighted to find a cherry hidden beneath a layer of delicious chocolate! They are perfect for Christmas time or even Valentine’s Day.

I love finding chocolate-covered cherries in boxes of assorted chocolates because I enjoy the flavor combo. A while back, at Christmas, those candies inspired me to make chocolate covered cherry cookies using cake mix.

Using a mix as the foundation for these cookies is a game-changer. Not only does it save time, but it also guarantees a soft texture. Plus, you can use any flavor of cake to make them. We love them so much that we make them all year long.

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• Why You Will Love These Maraschino Cherry Cookies
• Key Ingredients
• How To Make Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
• Storage Recommendations
• Tips and Tricks
• Variations
• FAQs
• More Easy Christmas Cookies
• Recipe

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THESE MARASCHINO CHERRY COOKIES

If you are a fan of cherry cordials, you will absolutely love these simple cherry cookies. They are a great treat for any holiday cookie exchange or special dinner. 

The chocolate chip cookies have a hidden maraschino cherry that is guaranteed to make you smile. Indulge yourself or impress guests with our unique twist on a classic.

• Quick and Easy. These thumbprint cookies are popular because they are simple. Cake mix makes them easy to prepare, even for new bakers.
• Sweet Flavor. The soft treats have a hidden cherry center topped with a rich layer of chocolate frosting. This flavor combo tastes amazing!
• Perfect for Any Occasion. These cookies are great any time of year, whether for a special celebration or a sweet pick-me-up.

Are you looking for more simple cake mix cookies for the holiday season? Try these Oreo peppermint crunch cookies or these cinnamon caramel cookies.

KEY INGREDIENTS

For this cherry cookie recipe, you only need basic pantry items as the main ingredients. However, if you’re missing any, add them to your grocery list.

• Vanilla Cake Mix – You only use the dry cake mix powder, so do NOT follow the box directions.
• Unsalted Butter – Set it out beforehand so it can soften.
• Large Egg – One will add the moisture needed to make cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract – Adds flavor. You can also use ½ teaspoon almond extract.
• Mini Chocolate Chips – The tiny chips work the best because these are small cookies.
• Maraschino Cherries – Jarred cherries are what we use in this recipe. Pat them dry with paper towels before placing them on each cooled cookie.
• Melted Chocolate – Microwave heavy cream and chocolate chips in a small bowl so it is smooth and creamy.

BruCrew Tip: Use a chocolate cake mix to make these chocolate cherry cookies.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY COOKIES

I always look forward to making this unique cookie because they are so easy to make. Plus, they look pretty and taste amazing! The sweet center brings so much happiness and joy to everyone who eats them.

1. Make the cookie dough. Mix the dry cake mix, softened butter, egg, and cream cheese in a large bowl. Continue beating the mixture until it forms a soft dough, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in diced cherries and mini chocolate chips gently.
2. Chill the dough. Cover and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
3. Roll and bake. Roll the dough into 36 balls. Place 12 cookies on a baking sheet, then place them in the oven. Once they are finished, remove them and let the cookies cool on the hot pan for a few minutes.
4. Decorate and serve. While the cookies are warm, press a cherry into the center of the cookies. Once cooled, spoon melted chocolate on top and let set before wrapping them up for a cookie swap.

STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS

These chocolate chip cherry cookies can be covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Place the cookies on a single layer of parchment paper so they do not stick together.

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Give the dough time to chill so the cookies don’t spread. I realize it makes the cookie process longer, but it does make a difference in how the cookies bake/spread.
• Divide the dough evenly. Use a small cookie scoop to portion out the dough.
• Do not overbake these cookies. They will look underdone when you take them out of the oven. Trust the recipe. The cookies will firm up as they cool on a wire rack.
• Cake mix cookies have the best texture after they have cooled completely.
• Pat the drained maraschino cherries dry with a paper towel before wrapping them in the cookie dough. This helps prevent excess juice from affecting the cookie texture.

VARIATIONS

• Use different cake mix flavors. For a rich chocolate cookie, use Devil’s Food Cake mix. For a festive red cookie, try red velvet cake mix.
• Get creative with frosting. Feel free to experiment with different types of chocolate, such as dark or white chocolate. Or add a hint of almond extract or some of the reserved cherry juice to the ganache for an extra layer of flavor.
• Enjoy a boozy treat. Use bourbon-soaked cherries. These can be found online or in specialty stores.