I think it’s been mentioned before but the fact is, I don’t really like chocolate. In small quantities and mixed with something (ie. peanut butter), I’ll eat milk chocolate but I’ll pass on the fudge, brownies, cake, ice cream, etc. It’s tragic, really. In fact, I’m bummed that I’ll never be the baker I want to be because a whole category of desserts tastes terrible to me.
BUT. This is a chocolate recipe. Granted it’s chocolate for weenies but you’ll have to cut a girl a little slack.
My trick is substituting popular semi-sweet chocolate chips with mellow milk chocolate ones. You could use whatever type of chocolate chips you like though. Mixed with the tart cherries and a hint of almond these cookies are layered with flavor and just rich enough to be addictive – whether you’re a choco-holic or not!
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 C butter, softened
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
3 1/4 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 pkg cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 C dried cherries
1 C milk chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add baking soda, baking powder, salt and beat. Beat in almond and vanilla extracts. Beat in flour, one cup at a time and then beat in oatmeal. Stir in cherries and chocolate chips, mixing well. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop dough in equal sized balls onto a cookie sheet (the secret to uniform cookies!) Bake for 14-16 minutes.
Makes about 3 dozen.
3 things I already love about this recipe:
1) Dried cherries! I love ’em and could just eat them straight out of the container.
2) Milk chocolate chips. Such a nice change from semi-sweet and a bit softer for us less-chocolate loving fans
3) Almond extract. Is it wrong that sometimes I just open up the bottle to enjoy a whiff now and again?
I too love dried cherries. I order them from Traverse Bay Fruit Company in 4 lb. boxes. We like to add them to salads, cereal, yogurt. I’ve also used them in a cherry almond scone recipe.
these look yummy, and such a great alternative to regular choc chip cookies. i had to laugh at rachel’s comment about the almond extract 🙂 it’s my secret ingredient in half my baking – sooooo great! your photography is fab too!
thanks! glad you like it!
Thanks for sharing a recipe that includes a form of chocolate use for us non-chocolate fans; this way I can make a recipe that both my husband and I can agree upon! Can’t wait to try them out! Thanks!
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