Maraschino Cherry Cookies

These Maraschino Cherry Cookies are crisp and then frosted with a sweet cherry cream cheese frosting, and then topped with a maraschino cherry for a pop of color. They are perfect for a festive holiday cookie tray or just to satisfy your sweet tooth any time of year.

cherry cookie on a small green plate

The cookies are easy to make and will be enjoyed by everyone. No matter when you make them, your friends and family will rave about this these sweet cherry cookies.

five cherry cookies stacked on top of each other

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • You only need simple ingredients, plus maraschino cherries for added flavor and a festive touch.
  • Plus, this recipe is fun to make with the kids – they can help you top each cookie with a cherry.
  • They’re also great to bring along to any holiday gathering or even just for yourself!

🛒Ingredients

To make these tasty cookies you will need a few simple ingredients. The best part is that these ingredients are that they are all easy to find at your local grocery, so you can make these sweet treats without breaking the bank.

  • Butter
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla
  • Egg
  • Flour
  • Baking Powder
  • Cream Cheese
  • Heavy Cream
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Maraschino Cherry Juice
  • Maraschino Cherries

See the recipe card below for quantities.

🔪 How to Make Maraschino Cherry Cookies

Making these cookies is so simple. Just follow the easy directions below or in the recipe card at the bottom of the post and you will have delicious cookies that your entire family will enjoy in no time at all.

Step 1: Cream together the wet ingredients

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, using the Whisk attachment, add the Butter, Sugar, Vanilla, and Egg, and blend until light and fluffy.

Step 2: Stir together the dry ingredients

 In a separate bowl, add the Flour, and Baking Powder, and stir well to blend. Add the Flour a little at a time and mix on low to blend, until all the Flour is added. 

cherry juice being added to cream cheese

Step 3: Finish the cookie dough

Remove the Whisk attachment, and use the paddle. Continue to blend the Cookie dough until it’s completely blended and a smooth ball starts to form. Scrape down the mixing bowl as needed.

Step 4: Line your baking sheet and shape the cookie dough

Line two cookie sheets with Parchment paper, roll the cookie dough into small balls, about 1-inch balls, and place the balls on the Parchment paper.

baked cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet

Step 5: Bake the cookies

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, or just until the cookies start to turn a light golden brown around the edges. About halfway through baking the cookies, check the oven, and the cookies may have started to crack a little. 

Step 6: Smash the cookies

Take a flat bottom glass, dip it in Sugar before lightly applying to each cookie – smash the cookies very gently, and slightly, making them a little flatter, and spread out a little more. This will give the cookies the crinkle look

Step 7: Cool the cookies

When the cookies are done, remove them from the oven to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cookies are cooling, make the Frosting.

Step 8: Drain the cherries

Place the maraschino cherries on a paper towel to drain the juice off them while you make the cookies.

Step 9: Make the frosting

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened Butter, and Cream Cheese, and blend to combine. Add the Vanilla, and Heavy Cream, and mix. Add the Powdered Sugar and the Cherry Juice a little at a time, blending after each addition, until the Frosting is smooth and fluffy. 

Step 10: Add the frosting to a piping bag

Using Plastic wrap (Glad wrap) tear off a piece about 12 inches wide, and place the Frosting length-wise in the middle of the plastic wrap; it will look like a long ribbon of Frosting. Then, roll the plastic wrap around the Frosting, making sure to keep it long, or length-wise like a long ribbon. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap. Snip the end off of the Plastic wrap, on one end only, and place it in a Pastry bag with the large Star Tip. 

Step 11: Decorate the cookies

Pipe the Frosting onto the cookies, using a swirling motion, and bring it up to a point. Place a Cherry on the top of each cookie. Allow the Frosting to set or firm up a bit, about 30 minutes.  Serve, and Enjoy!

📝Variations

Do you want to change up this recipe and make it your own? Here are some ways that you can do that!

  • Food coloring: Add a few drops of food coloring to make different colored frostings
  • Topping: Use semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips instead of Maraschino cherries for an extra sweet treat

If you love cherry-flavored desserts like this one then you may also enjoy this Chocolate Cheesecake Dip with Cherries.

six cherry cookies on a green and white kitchen towels

🥄 Equipment

You will need a few kitchen tools to help you make this delicious cookie recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to impress your friends and family with this sweet dessert.

  • mixing bowls
  • hand mixer
  • cookie sheets lined with parchment paper
  • piping bag
  • plastic wrap
  • paper towels

🥫 Storage

Storage – These cookies are best served the day of, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. If you do decide to save some for later, just make sure the frosting is completely set before storing them.

💭 Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that these cherry cookies turn out perfectly for you when you make them.

  • Make sure to use room-temperature ingredients. This helps ensure that the frosting will be smooth and creamy when you pipe it onto the cookies.
  • Don’t over-bake the cookies, as they can become dry and crumbly if left in the oven too long. 
  • Be gentle when smashing the cookies; you don’t want to flatten them too much. Just press the top of each cookie gently and lightly with a flat-bottomed glass.
  • Be sure to drain the cherries on paper towels before adding them to the frosting. This will help keep your frosting from becoming too runny.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Can you freeze these cookies?

Yes, you can freeze these cookies. Just make sure to wrap them individually in plastic wrap before placing them in the freezer.

Can I use frozen cherries instead of Maraschino cherries?

No, you will need to use the maraschino cherries because they are sweeter.

Can I make these cookies in advance?

Yes, you can make the cookies in advance and store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

🍽 More Cherry Recipes

Do you enjoy cherries, try these delicious recipes:

📌 PIN IT!!

cherry cookie on a small green plate

🧾Recipe Card

Want to make this maraschino cherry cookies recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

cherry cookie on a small green plate

Maraschino Cherry Cookies

These Maraschino Cherry Cookies are crispy cherry cookies that are topped with a sweet cherry frosting and a maraschino cookie.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 40 Cookies
Calories: 206kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowls
  • Hand mixer
  • cookie sheets lined with parchment paper
  • Piping bag
  • plastic wrap
  • Paper towels

Ingredients

  • 2 Sticks of Butter softened
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
  • 1 Egg
  • 3 cups Flour
  • 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

Frosting

  • 1 stick of Butter softend
  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon Heavy Cream
  • 32 ounces Powdered Sugar
  • cup Maraschino Cherry Juice – from the Jar
  • 1 Jar of Maraschino Cherry’s – with Stems

Instructions

  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, using the Whisk attachment, add the Butter, Sugar, Vanilla, and Egg, and blend until light and fluffy.
  • In a separate bowl, add the Flour, and Baking Powder, and stir well to blend. Add the Flour a little at a time and mix on low to blend, until all the Flour is added.
  • Remove the Whisk attachment, and use the paddle.
  • Continue to blend the Cookie dough until it’s completely blended and a smooth ball starts to form. Scrape down the mixing bowl as needed.
  • Line two cookie sheets with Parchment paper, and roll the cookie dough into small balls, about 1 inch balls, and place the balls on the Parchment paper.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, or just until the cookies start to turn a light golden brown around the edges. About half way through baking the cookies, check the oven, and the cookies may have started to crack a little.
  • Take a flat bottom glass, dip it in Sugar before lightly applying to each cookie – smash the cookies very gently, and slightly, making them a little flatter, and spread out a little more.
  • This will give the cookies the crinkle look
  • When the cookies are done, remove from the oven to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • While cookies are cooling, make the Frosting.
  • Dry the maraschino cherries on a paper towel to dry. You will use these for topping the cookies.
  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened Butter, and Cream Cheese, and blend to combine.
  • Add the Vanilla, and Heavy Cream, and mix.
  • Add the Powdered Sugar and the Cherry Juice a little at a time, blending after each addition, until the Frosting is smooth and fluffy. This will give the Frosting the delicate Pink Color, and a wonderful Cherry Cream Cheese flavor.
  • Using Plastic wrap (Glad wrap) tear off a piece about 12 inches wide, and place the Frosting length-wise in the middle of the plastic wrap; it will look like a long ribbon of Frosting.
  • Then, roll the plastic wrap around the Frosting, making sure to keep it long, or length-wise like a long ribbon. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap .
  • Snip the end off of the Plastic wrap, on one end only, and place it in a Pastry bag with the large Star Tip.
  • Pipe the Frosting onto the cookies, using a swirling motion, and bring it up to a point.
  • Place a Cherry on the top of each cookie.
  • Allow the Frosting to set or firm up a bit, about 30 minutes.
  • Serve, and Enjoy!

Notes

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cookie | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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