Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 5-10 drops red food coloring optional but so fun
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries about 15-20 cherries, chopped small and drained
- 1 cup chocolate chips regular or mini
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cream together cream cheese, butter, and sugar until light and fluffy (1-2 minutes).
- Add eggs, vanilla, and red food coloring (optional but so fun).
- Next, add dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt). Mix until dough forms. The dough will be soft but still able to come out of a cookie scoop.
- Fold in chopped cherries and chocolate chips
- Using a size 40 cookie scoop, place 12-15 cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.
- Gently press top of cookie down to flatten to 3/4 to 1 inch high.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-13 minutes. Bottoms should begin to brown, peaks on the top of the cookie may start browning but the whole cookie should not be brown.
- If over baked the cookies will go dry and crumbly.
- Remove and place on cooling rack or paper towel.
Notes
PRO TIP: after chopping the cherries, spread on a paper towel and dab top with another paper towel. This will eliminate extra moister that can affect the cookies.