Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to share the love than with a batch of homemade treats? While chocolates are classic, there is something truly special about a warm, freshly baked cookie. Consequently, this year, we invite you to bake a dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious. We are, of course, talking about the delightful and festive Valentine Day Cherry Cookies. These cookies are wonderfully soft, perfectly chewy, and packed with sweet cherry flavor, making them an ideal treat to share with your loved ones. Furthermore, they are surprisingly simple to make, which means you can create a memorable gift without spending hours in the kitchen.
This recipe for Valentine Day Cherry Cookies will guide you through every step, ensuring a perfect batch every single time. Whether you are an experienced baker or just starting out, you will find these instructions easy to follow. In addition to the simple steps, we will provide expert tips, fun variations, and proper storage advice. As a result, you will not only bake amazing cookies but also feel confident in your baking skills. So, let’s preheat those ovens and get ready to create the most charming cookies for the sweetest day of the year.
Why You’ll Love These Valentine Day Cherry Cookies
There are countless reasons to fall in love with this cookie recipe, especially for a celebration centered around affection. First and foremost, the flavor is simply divine. The buttery, vanilla-kissed dough serves as the perfect backdrop for the bright, sweet-tart burst of maraschino cherries. A hint of almond extract elevates the cherry flavor, consequently creating a taste that is reminiscent of classic cherry desserts. Unlike some other treats, these cookies are not overly sweet, which allows the natural flavors to shine through beautifully.
Beyond the taste, the texture is another major highlight. These cookies are incredibly soft and chewy, providing a satisfying bite that melts in your mouth. This delightful texture is achieved by using the right ratio of ingredients and following a few simple techniques, which we will cover in detail. Moreover, their appearance is undeniably festive. The cheerful pink hue from the cherry juice and the little red specks of chopped cherries make these cookies a perfect fit for Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for more festive treats, these mini Valentine Day cheesecake bites are another fantastic option. Ultimately, these Valentine Day Cherry Cookies are a joy to make, share, and eat.
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Valentine Day Cherry Cookies: The 15 Ultimate Tips for the Perfect Batch
Soft, chewy Valentine Day Cherry Cookies bursting with sweet cherry flavor and a hint of almond, perfect for sharing love in every bite.
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained, patted dry, and chopped
2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract; mix until well combined.
5. Mix in maraschino cherry juice until incorporated.
6. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
7. Gently fold in chopped maraschino cherries.
8. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are soft.
10. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3–5 minutes.
11. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Repeat with remaining dough.
13. Optionally decorate with glaze, chocolate drizzle, or sprinkles.
14. Store cookies once fully cooled.
15. Enjoy with loved ones.
Notes
Use room temperature butter and egg for best texture.
Do not overmix once flour is added to keep cookies soft.
Chilling dough for 30 minutes helps reduce spreading.
White or dark chocolate chips make a great addition.
Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 22mg
Essential Ingredients for Your Cookies
To create the best Valentine Day Cherry Cookies, it is important to start with high-quality ingredients. While the list is straightforward, each component plays a crucial role in the final outcome. Therefore, paying attention to the details will yield the most delicious results. Here is what you will need:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter, softened
- Granulated Sugar
- One Large Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
- Maraschino Cherries, drained and chopped
- A little Maraschino Cherry Juice (from the jar)
Butter and Sugar
The foundation of a great cookie starts with creaming softened butter and sugar together. Unsalted butter is preferred because it allows you to control the salt content. Ensure your butter is at room temperature, but not melted, for the best texture. Creaming these two ingredients together until light and fluffy incorporates air into the dough, which in turn leads to a softer cookie.
Flour and Leavening Agents
All-purpose flour provides the structure for our cookies. It is essential to measure your flour correctly to avoid dense, dry cookies. For best results, use the spoon and level method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. Baking soda helps the cookies rise and spread just the right amount, while a pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
The Star: Cherries
Maraschino cherries are the key to the classic flavor and festive color of these cookies. Be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before chopping to avoid adding too much extra moisture to the dough. A small amount of the reserved juice from the jar is used to give the dough a beautiful pink tint and an extra pop of cherry flavor. According to Healthline, cherries are also packed with nutrients, though maraschino cherries are more of a sweet treat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have your ingredients ready, it is time to start baking. Following these steps carefully will guarantee a perfect batch of Valentine Day Cherry Cookies.
- Prepare Your Station: First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Then, line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Next, beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until everything is well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. Then, mix in two tablespoons of the reserved maraschino cherry juice.
- Combine Wet and Dry: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix only until just combined; be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Fold in the Cherries: Gently fold the chopped maraschino cherries into the cookie dough using a spatula.
- Scoop and Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. You can roll the dough into balls for a more uniform look if you prefer.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers should still look soft.
- Cool Completely: Finally, let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart.
Tips for the Perfect Cherry Cookies Every Time
Achieving cookie perfection is easy with a few simple tricks up your sleeve. These tips will help you make the best Valentine Day Cherry Cookies you have ever tasted.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients
For a smooth and evenly mixed dough, it is crucial that your butter and egg are at room temperature. Cold ingredients do not combine as easily, which can result in a lumpy batter and denser cookies. Therefore, remember to take your butter and egg out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to start baking.
Do Not Overmix the Dough
One of the most common baking mistakes is overmixing the dough after adding the flour. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which unfortunately leads to tough, dense cookies instead of soft and chewy ones. For this reason, you should mix only until the flour is no longer visible.
Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended)
If you have the time, chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes can make a significant difference. Chilling solidifies the fat in the butter, which in turn helps the cookies spread less during baking. This results in thicker, chewier cookies. Additionally, it allows the flavors to meld together for a more delicious taste.
Fun Variations and Decoration Ideas
While this Valentine Day Cherry Cookies recipe is fantastic as is, there is always room for a little creativity. Here are some fun ways to customize your cookies and make them even more special.
Chocolate and Cherry Delight
Chocolate and cherry is a classic flavor combination for a reason. You can easily incorporate chocolate by adding about a cup of white, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate chips to the dough when you fold in the cherries. Alternatively, after the cookies have cooled, you can drizzle them with melted chocolate for an elegant finish.
A Festive Glaze
A simple glaze can add another layer of sweetness and a beautiful shine. To make one, simply whisk together one cup of powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cherry juice until you reach your desired consistency. Then, you can dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the glaze or drizzle it over them. For even more Valentine’s baking fun, you might want to try these amazing heart-shaped brownies.
Sprinkles and More
Nothing says celebration quite like sprinkles. Before baking, you can gently press some festive Valentine’s Day sprinkles onto the tops of the dough balls. On the other hand, if you are adding a glaze, you can add the sprinkles on top of the wet glaze so they stick. This is an especially fun activity to do with kids.
Storing Your Valentine Day Cherry Cookies
Once you have baked your beautiful cookies, you will want to store them properly to maintain their freshness and soft texture. Fortunately, these cookies store very well. To store them at room temperature, place the completely cooled cookies in an airtight container. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to five days. For an extra soft texture, you can add a slice of bread to the container; the cookies will absorb the moisture from the bread.
If you want to plan ahead, you can also freeze these cookies. To freeze the baked cookies, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Afterwards, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, where they will keep for up to three months. Alternatively, you can freeze the cookie dough. Simply shape the dough into balls, freeze them on a baking sheet, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. You can bake them directly from frozen, just be sure to add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time. Proper storage ensures you can enjoy these treats whenever a craving strikes, though it is always wise to enjoy sweets in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle, a point often emphasized by health authorities like the Mayo Clinic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, baking a batch of Valentine Day Cherry Cookies is a wonderful and heartfelt way to celebrate the season of love. This recipe is not only simple and easy to follow but also produces incredibly delicious results that are sure to impress. With their soft, chewy texture and delightful cherry-almond flavor, these cookies are a perfect treat for sharing with family, friends, and that special someone. Furthermore, the tips and variations provided allow you to customize them to your liking and ensure baking success every time. For another festive idea, consider making these strawberry cream cheese heart danishes. We hope you enjoy making and sharing these beautiful Valentine Day Cherry Cookies as much as we do.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use fresh or frozen cherries instead of maraschino?
Yes, you can, but it will change the flavor and color of the cookies. If using fresh or frozen cherries, be sure to pit and chop them finely. You will also need to pat them very dry to avoid adding excess moisture. The cookies will not have the same pink hue unless you add a drop of red food coloring.
Why did my cookies spread too much?
Cookies typically spread too much if the butter was too soft or melted. Another reason could be that the dough was not chilled. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking helps the cookies maintain their shape.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely. You can prepare the dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When you are ready to bake, just scoop and bake as directed, though you may need to add an extra minute to the baking time if the dough is very cold.
Is almond extract necessary?
Almond extract is not strictly necessary, but it is highly recommended as it significantly enhances the cherry flavor. If you have a nut allergy or dislike the taste, you can simply omit it and perhaps add a little extra vanilla extract instead.
