Сhristmas Сookies with a touch of almond and vanilla are perfect for holidays.  

Double chocolate and maraschino cherries combination is magic! 

These cookies are crunchy outside, soft and  chewy inside. Delicious sweet cherry on top is so festive, perfect in combination with chocolate.

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients -  flour, white and brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda,  salt and vanilla powder.

In another bowl whisk butter with hand mixer until pale. Scrape the sides of the bowl. Add eggs to butter and continue mixing until combined. Scrape the sides with a spatula.

Add few tablespoons of dry ingredients and mix on a low speed. Add about half of the dry mixture in a bowl and mix with a spatula.

Add milk and mix with a spatula. Add the rest of dry ingredients and continue mixing until well incorporated.

Mix in maraschino cherry syrup, using the same spatula.Add melted chocolate and mix with the spatula until all is well incorporated.

Easy chocolate cookie recipe, if you want a chocolate cake, but just don’t have enough time to make one.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or at least 30 minutes. Then, preheat the oven to 356 F / 180 C.

Scoop a ball of chocolate cookie dough on the baking tray, layered with parchment paper. You can form the ball with your hands. Leave the space  between cookies. 

After creating chocolate balls, use your thumb to make a well in the center of each cookie, for maraschino cherries.

Put maraschino cherry in the well of each cookie. Bake for 10 minutes, then prepare another batch until all cookie dough is used.

Let the cookies cool on a wire rack, then sprinkle crushed almonds on top. Cookies will keep up to 5-6 days in the fridge. 

This recipe makes 25 cherry cookies. You can include them in your edible Christmas gifts for your family and friends!

These maraschino cherry cookies are perfect to share at any holiday or just when you crave something sweet and chocolaty. Tempting to have more than one cookie.