These chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies are addictive! Buttery chocolate cookies topped with sweet maraschino cherries and ready in 30 minutes.
If you are looking for fun baking project for kids, these chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies are the thing. They would make perfect Rudolph noses cookies! Quick and easy preparation & only 15 minutes in the oven definitely makes it the perfect recipe to make with kids.
By the way, chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies are one of my favorite cookies. They are easy to make and are altogether with Raspberry Linzer Cookies, Hazelnut Butter Cookies and White Wine Cookies perfect for the holiday season!
Just so you know, every time I make these chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies, they disappear pretty fast. I’d say it’s the delicious combination of chocolate cookie and soft cherry that makes them so delicious!
How to make thumbprint cookies with maraschino cherries
Ingredients you need to make these cookies:
- Flour – All-Purpose (US)/Plain (UK)
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Sugar – Superfine (US)/Caster Sugar (UK)
- Unsalted Butter
- Maraschino Cherries
Tools & Utensils you need:
- Baking Tray
- Baking Paper or Silicone Mat
- Whisk (or a sieve – check the recipe card for more information)
To make these cookies I used my Shortcrust Pastry Recipe and added cocoa powder to it. I also slightly reduced the amount of flour. Now, normally you would chill this pastry but because we will not be rolling it out but forming it into small balls, it does not need any chilling. Just make sure your butter is cold.
Place each bowl onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Leave enough space in between each ball. Now using your thumb or the back of a measuring spoon make dents for the cherries.
Baking these chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies will take about 15 minutes. They will still be soft to touch when you take them out from the oven but as they cool down they will harden.
This recipe yields 16-19 chocolate maraschino cherry cookies. The number will depend on the size of the balls. I prefer making them smaller and getting more out of the dough rather than making them large.
Now place one maraschino cherry in each dent and you are done! The chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies can go into the oven.
If you like thumbprint cookies, you might also like these:
Want to see how to make Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies? Watch the video!
Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour / Plain Flour, heaped (160g)
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (25g)
- ¼ cup Superfine Sugar / Caster Sugar (50g)
- 1 stick Unsalted Butter , chilled (110g)
- 6 ounces Maraschino Cherries (170g)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder and sugar until well combined (use a hand whisk).
- Cut the butter into small cubes and add this to the bowl. Start working the butter into the flour mix. Like if you wanted to make streusel topping. Once you have distributed the butter evenly, turn the mixture into dough.
- Take a small piece of the dough and form a ball. Place it onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Repeat until you use up all the dough.
- Using the back of a measuring spoon or your thumb, make dents in each ball. Place a cherry into each dent and transfer into the oven.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 360°F/180°C for about 15 minutes.
- Once ready, transfer them onto a cooling rack.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- You can sieve the flour and cocoa powder. Sometimes, they might contain a lot of lumps so sifting may be better option.
- These cookies will be soft to touch when you take them out from the oven, but will harden as they cool down.
- I used 6 ounces of maraschino cherries. This weight includes the juice as well. Just make sure you have about 16-19 cherries.
Katie Crenshaw says
Oh My Gosh…. I love anything with chocolate + cherries!!! I can’t wait to make these pretty cookies for Christmas!! YUM!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Chocolate & cherries are such a great combo, right? :)
Shadi says
I just love how simple and delicious these cookies are! With the holidays being so busy, I bet we can all use easy cookie recipes like this!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Glad to hear you like them, Shadi :)
Stephanie says
Chocolate & Cherries just go perfectly together. Such a fun looking cookie and great to serve up for the Holidays!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks, Stephanie! :)
Elizabeth says
These are so adorable! I have to make a batch with my kids this weekend!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
If you do, let me know what you think!
Jennifer Banz says
My husband loves chocolate covered cherries so I bet he will love these cookies. I’ll have to make him some for a Christmas treat!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
He’ll love these! :)
Karly says
Wow, these look amazing! They sound so delish and are sooo pretty too. Can’t wait to try ’em out!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thank you, Karly!
Crystal says
These cookies look so yummy. They really do look like “Rudolph nose” cookies. Perfect for Christmas!