Maraschino cherry thumbprint cookies are soft baked chocolate cookie that is topped with sweet chocolate ganache and a maraschino cherry on top.
These chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies melt in your mouth and are the ultimate cookie recipe if you ask me. A buttery and rich melt-in-your-mouth chocolate cookie that will win over your family and friends.
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Why I Love This Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Here are some more reasons why these cookies might be the perfect dessert to try out.
- Soft-baked cookies.
- Homemade.
- Easy chocolate ganache filling
- Delicious chocolate thumbprint cookie with a cherry on the top.
Make sure to check out my cherry cola cake, for another chocolate and cherry-flavored dessert.
Ingredients
- Butter – Make sure your butter is softened, it will provide the best texture to the cookies.
- Sugar – I used granulated sugar for this homemade cookie.
- Egg – Make sure the egg is at room temperature.
- Milk – You can use whole milk, 2%, etc.
- Vanilla
- Flour – Make sure to scoop the flour into the measuring cup and then level off the top of the measuring cup.
- Unsweetened Cocoa – I used a classic unsweetened cocoa but you could even do an extra dark cocoa powder.
- Salt
- Chocolate Chips – Dark chocolate chips are what I used, but semi-sweet chocolates work as well.
- Whipping Cream – This is used to make the ganache for the center.
- Maraschino Cherries – Use the maraschino cherries for the topping.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
Filling: Instead of a chocolate ganache, you would use a white chocolate ganache instead.
Cake Mix Cookie: Want to change up the recipe quite a bit? Use a chocolate cake mix to make the cookies instead of homemade.
Vanilla Cookie: Leave out the cocoa powder and make a vanilla-based cookie instead of chocolate.
How to Make Maraschino Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Want to learn how to make maraschino cherry thumbprint cookies for you to enjoy? Follow the steps below and you will delicious cookies in no time at all.
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven and then line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Step 2: Cream Butter
Next, you will beat your butter and sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer. Whip until the mixture is light and fluffy. Then add in the egg, milk, and vanilla.
Step 3: Dry Ingredients and Refrigerate
Slowly work in the dry ingredients until well mixed. Then refrigerate the dough for an hour.
Step 4: Scoop and Bake
Next, you will use a cookie scoop to make the cookies placing them an inch apart from each other. Then bake as directed.
Step 5: Press in the center of the baked cookies
Press in the center of the cookie once the cookies are done, this will create the thumbprint.
Step 6: Ganache and Assemble Cookies
Make the ganache and then pour a little in each center of the cookie. Then top with a maraschino cherry on top.
Serving Suggestions
Consider serving up this chicken fajita casserole, and end the evening with this cherry chocolate cookie.
Pro Tips
- It is very important you allow the cookie dough to set up in the fridge. Otherwise, the cookies will fall flat. And then make sure the cookies are fully cooled before you place the ganache on, or it will melt.
- Make sure that you don’t overmix the cookie dough once you add the dry ingredients. Once you add the dry ingredients mix until they are just combined. Otherwise, you may have tough cookies.
Storage
You can refrigerate the cookies if you would like in an airtight container. Now, you can also store them in an airtight container at room temperature. I find they store longer in the fridge.
You can also freeze any cookies you do not plan to eat right away. Just place it in a container and freeze it for 2-3 months.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Thumbprint cookies are called this because you make an indent in your cookie. It looks like a thumbprint, and then you fill the center with a filling.
Jam or fruit preserves is the traditional filling for a thumbprint cookie. But you will find that you can fill it with so many items like ganache, caramel, etc.
If you don’t allow your cookies to chill fully they will fall flat when baked. Also if you use melted butter instead of softened it can alter the texture of the cookies as well.
More Cookie Recipes
If you like delicious cookie recipes, give these recipes a try:
Want to make this delicious recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin it so that you can come back to it later.
Maraschino Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
- baking sheets or cookie sheets
- Electric Mixer
- Sifter
- Cookie Scoop
- Large bowl
- Parchment Paper
- Medium bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 egg room temperature
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Chocolate Ganache
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 24 to 30 stemless maraschino cherries drained and patted dry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Beat the butter at medium speed until fluffy. Slowly add the sugar, scraping the bowl down as needed. Add the egg, millk, and vanilla, blending until well mixed.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined. Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour.
- Using a small (about 1 tablespoon) cookie scoop, place the cookie dough at least 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes.
- When the cookies are done, remove from the oven and gently press the back of a teaspoon into the center of each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
- Meanwhile, place the dark chocolate chips, cream, and butter in a microwaveable bowl. Heat in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Spoon a small amount of the chocolate into the hole in each cookie and immediately place a cherry in the center. Allow the chocolate to set completely before serving.
Notes
- It is very important you allow the cookie dough to set up in the fridge. Otherwise, the cookies will fall flat. And then make sure the cookies are fully cooled before you place the ganache on, or it will melt.
- Make sure that you don’t overmix the cookie dough once you add the dry ingredients. Once you add the dry ingredients mix until they are just combined. Otherwise, you may have tough cookies.