Description
Indulge in these delightful Cherry Garcia Cookies, inspired by the iconic Ben & Jerry’s flavor, combining rich dark chocolate, tart dried cherries, and crunchy walnuts in a soft, chewy cookie base. Perfect as a sweet dessert or an anytime treat, these vegetarian-friendly cookies bake up golden and flavorful with a perfect balance of sweetness and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 3/4 cup chopped dark or semi-sweet chocolate
- 3/4 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly until fully combined for added moisture and flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly throughout the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and toughening the cookies.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the chopped chocolate, dried cherries, and walnuts if using, ensuring an even distribution of delicious mix-ins throughout the dough.
- Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon, scoop portions of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers appear set but still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which prevents breaking and preserves texture.
Notes
- Use high-quality dark or semi-sweet chocolate and tart dried cherries for the best authentic flavor experience.
- For thicker cookies, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and chewy texture.
