Maraschino Cherry Cookies

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking oil.

Step 2

Drain the cherries into a small bowl but save the juice. Remove any cherry stems from the cherries and discard. Dry the cherries well with a paper towel, then chop the cherries into small pieces. See notes.

Step 3

Add the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.

Step 4

Crack and add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix well with an electric mixer until fully combined. Add 1 tablespoon of the cherry juice from the jar and mix into the dough. Discard the additional cherry juice.

Step 5

Place the flour, baking soda, and salt in a second bowl. Blend the dry ingredients well, then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined and a thick dough forms.

Step 6

Add the oats, 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips, and chopped maraschino cherries to the dough, folding them in until just evenly mixed.

Step 7

Use a two tablespoon cookie scoop and roll the dough into balls.

Step 8

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet with at least 2 inches in between the cookies. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until they just begin to turn golden brown. Immediately add a few extra chocolate chips to the top of each cookie. from the remaining chocolate chips.

Step 9

Remove the cookies from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for 5-10 minutes. Then remove the cookies from the pan and place on a wire rack or clean kitchen towel to finish cooling. Serve and enjoy!