Step 1

Preheat oven to 350.

Step 2

Place the cherries in several layers of paper towels. Squeeze the cherries to remove excess juice. Coarsely chop and set aside.

Step 3

Place the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until light and fluffy.

Step 4

Switch to the paddle attachment and dd the eggs one at a time; stirring after each addition

Step 5

Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 6

Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Step 7

Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, one third a time; stirring lightly between each addition.

Step 8

Scoop one tablespoon of dough and form into a ball. Carefully make an indent in the center of the ball of dough and add 1/4 teaspoon of chopped cherries. Carefully seal the ball of dough up and place on the baking sheet.

Step 9

For fudgy cookies, leave the dough in a ball. For crispier cookies, carefully flatten the balls of dough to 1/2 inch thick.

Step 10

Bake at 350 for 13 to 15 minutes or until no longer soft to the touch for the round cookies or slightly browned around the edges for the flatter cookies.

Step 11

Cool in pan 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.