Easy Maraschino Cherry Cookies with Hershey Kisses

I must be in my maraschino cherry phase. I don’t drink Diet Coke very often, but when I do, I always add a few maraschino cherries. Not the juice and not grenadine. Just the cherries. So when I found this easy maraschino cherry recipe, I had to try it. If you like cherries and chocolate, you will love this recipe!

The cookies were quick to make and turned out soft, buttery and full of flavor. I made them for Holy Week, but they would be perfect for any spring celebration!

Ingredients for Maraschino Cherry Cookies

This recipe makes about two and a half dozen cookies depending on scoop size.

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

• ¼ teaspoon almond extract (or use vanilla or cherry)

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

• ¼ cup granulated sugar for rolling

• 24-30 Hershey’s Kisses

How to Make Maraschino Cherry Cookies

1. Cream the butter and sugar In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add cherry juice and extract Mix in the maraschino cherry juice and almond extract until smooth.

3. Add flour and salt Slowly mix in the flour and salt. The dough should come together and feel like Play-Doh.

4. Stir in the chopped cherries Fold in the chopped maraschino cherries just until combined.

5. Form and chill the dough Scoop tablespoon-sized cookie dough balls and roll them in granulated sugar. Chill the dough balls in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. This helps prevent flat cookies.(I actually chilled the dough before scooping and that worked too.)

6. Bake the cookies Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and space cookies evenly apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are fully baked through.

7. Add the chocolate center Immediately press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie. The warm cookies will soften the chocolate slightly but it will not melt. Let the cookies cool completely before serving.

The Perfect Cherry Cookie for Spring Baking

These cherry blossom cookies are soft, colorful and filled with cherry and chocolate flavor. They look beautiful on a dessert tray and make a fun baking project for Easter, spring parties or baby showers.

Try them the next time you want an easy cherry cookie recipe that stands out. They might just become your new favorite too!

Happy Easter. He is risen!