Giant Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cookies

  • Giant Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cookies

    Chocolate and cherry.  Sigh.

    It really is a classic combo, but just lesser known on the whole rung of Famous Chocolate Combinations (you know- the ladder where almond, mint, peanut butter and caramel kind of rule).  Cherry is kind of down there with orange and raspberry, but no less worthy of being paired with the King of Dessert (that, of course, being  c h o c o l a t e).

    I used dried cherries in these cookies, but if you’d like something a bit softer, go for the candied cherries instead.  Maraschino cherries could also work, but might be a tad soggy in their consistency.  Bottom line- play around with the whole cherry theme.  While you’re at it, sandwich a couple of cookies together with cherry jam (reduced in a saucepan over medium-low heat for a few minutes) and you’ve completed the cherry-licious theme.  Why didn’t I do that with these cookies??

    Adapted from Crisco’s recipe…

    3/4 cup shortening*

    1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

    2 tablespoons milk

    1 teaspoon vanilla

    1 egg

    1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

    1 teaspoon salt

    3/4 teaspoon baking soda

    1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

    3/4 cup dried cherries

    1. Preheat oven to 350º.  Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, milk, and vanilla.  Beat in egg for 1 minute.
    3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, salt and baking soda together; stir into wet bowl until just combined.  Stir in chocolate chips and dried cherries.
    4. Scoop in heaping tablespoon amounts onto parchment paper and bake for 8 – 10 minutes or so, until lightly browned.
    5. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 2 minutes, then remove from pan to finish cooling.

    Tips:

    • What kind of chocolate to use?  Semi-sweet always pleases a crowd- but milk or white would be great too.  Or dark!
    • *Shortening… butter flavor is actually ideal, but of course way more synthetic.  Up to you.
    • Want crispier cookies?  Bake for a few minutes longer.  It’s that easy.
    • These freeze well, if wrapped air-tight.
    • Enjoy!

     

    Print Friendly, PDF & EmailClick Here to PRINT This Recipe Now!

    Related Recipes & Posts:


    April 18th, 2015 | More Sweets Please | No Comments | Tags: , ,

Leave a Reply

* Name, Email, and Comment are Required