New Year Delight: Chocolate Cherry Cookies Recipe

These decadent chocolate cherry cookies combine fudgy chocolate bases with a luscious chocolate cherry ganache, making them perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion for chocolate lovers.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 ½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• ½ cup (40 g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¾ cup (168 g) unsalted butter (softened)
• ¾ cup (165 g) light brown sugar (packed)
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Cherry Ganache:

• 5 oz chopped chocolate (e.g., dark chocolate with cherries)
• ¼ cup + 2 tbsp (90 ml) heavy cream
• ¼ cup (85 g) cherry preserves

Instructions

Prepare the Cookies:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric or stand mixer until creamy.
3. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add egg yolks and vanilla extract. Mix until light and fluffy.
4. Combine Ingredients: Gradually add dry mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed until fully combined.
5. Shape and Chill Dough: Scoop dough into 32 tablespoon-sized balls, press the center of each ball with a ¼ tsp to create an indent, and chill for 1 hour.

Bake the Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them evenly.
3. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Immediately after baking, press centers again with a ¼ tsp if needed and use a circular cutter for uniform shape.
4. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Prepare the Ganache:

1. Heat heavy cream until just boiling, then pour over chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth.
2. Mix in cherry preserves until fully combined.

Assemble Cookies:

1. Spoon about 1 tsp ganache into the indent of each cooled cookie.
2. Refrigerate cookies for 10-15 minutes to allow ganache to set.

Storage Tips

• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 weeks.

Pro Tips

• For Perfect Texture: Always weigh your flour or use the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense cookies.
• Shaping Hack: Use a circular cookie cutter around baked cookies for a perfect round shape.
• Ganache Rescue: If the ganache doesn’t fully melt, warm it over a double boiler.

Enjoy your batch of heavenly chocolate cherry cookies! 🍒🍫