Description
These Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies are soft, rich, and full of deep chocolate flavor, with a bright cherry sitting in the center. Each cookie is pressed, filled, and drizzled with chocolate, making them look bakery-ready without any complicated steps. They are perfect for holidays, parties, or anytime you want a simple but impressive chocolate treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 24 maraschino cherries (or cherry jam)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (for melting and drizzling)
Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Form the Dough: Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Create the Thumbprints: Press a small dip into each cookie using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon.
- Add Cherries: Place one maraschino cherry or a spoonful of cherry jam into each dip.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet before moving them to a rack.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds. Drizzle over cooled cookies.
Notes
Chill the dough for 10 minutes if it feels sticky. For a richer flavor, use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate when drizzling. You can also replace the cherries with raspberry or strawberry jam.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg