on Nov 18, 2016, Updated Nov 27, 2020
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Cherry Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are simple, yet decadent and even elegant holiday cookies that are so easy to put together that even a kid can make them. Or, in this case, even a Platter Talk Kid.
About these
I’ve been yearning to put together some new holiday cookie recipes for a few weeks now. Anyone who knows anything about our modern family knows that we love a couple of things above all others: Our boys and our food.
Whenever we get the chance, we love mixing the two together here on Platter Talk, in our kitchen, and once in a while at an eating establishment. There is perhaps no better time to bring kids (or other family/friends) into the kitchen, than over the holiday season.
Holidays = Food = Family = Love = Fun. Or something like that.
Ingredients
- Cocoa
- Cherry Pie Filling
- All-Purpose Flour
- Sugar
- Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt
- Eggs
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Chocolate Chips
- All the Love You Can Add
We live a busy life, in all likelihood just like you. If you’re really lucky, you have a hobby or pastime that you really enjoy. We are two working parents with half a baseball team worth of kids, For us, one of those “side pleasures” involves food. Preparing it, sharing it, and teaching our kids about it, perhaps it’s a family tradition.
This recipe for Cherry Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies comes from another part of our family, our foodie family. Over the past few years, we’ve joined kitchens with some other food bloggers and it has been a great experience on many levels. We have gotten to know many talented folks and like our family at home, they have a great passion for food. That’s where this recipe comes into play.
Every few months or so, a few of us “virtual foodie friends” get together and recreate a recipe from someone within our group. This month, we had the privilege of being paired with a couple of super-moms who also happen to run a stellar food website on the side. Their site is aptly named Who Needs a Cape? and clearly, they do very well without any such thing. Our task was to recreate a recipe from their site and with a little rearrangement of words, we chose their Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies.
It never ceases to amaze me how food brings people together and now thanks to the digital world in which we live, this phenomenon occurs, even virtually. These cookies that came from friends we have never even met are a perfect example of the point I’m trying to make.
If kitchen creations can have this effect on people who have never met in person, just imagine the experiences that can be created in your own kitchen with those you love. Try this wonderful treat this holiday season and find out exactly what we mean.
Other easy cookie recipes
Cherry Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 21 oz . can cherry pie filling
- 1 handful chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
- Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
- Roll cookie dough into balls, 2 inches in diameter.
- Place on greased cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper and flatten slightly.
- Use thumb to create center well and place 2 or 3 cherries in thumbprint.
- Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes and then cool on wire wrack.
- Garnish with melted chocolate chips and then serve with cold milk.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These look perfect! I think my boys too would enjoy helping me whip these up!! what a great holiday treat!
Thank, Angela. Our kids loved helping make these!
What a great combo for a holiday cookie — I have bene trying to include my son in my photos too– but he’s only 1 and makes a huge mess! It’s still fun.
These are so easy and so wonderful, Michelle and I hope you try this one soon!
Wow such a gorgeous recipe, and I bet a lot of fun to make!
Thanks so much, Matt. We had a lot of fun with this simple but elegant holiday cookie!
I love seeing the shots of your kids cooking in the kitchen! Almost makes me want to have another kid — but then again… (mine is in college) – Cookings look ah-may-zing
Thanks, Lisa. Our guys really enjoy making a delicious mess in the kitchen, alongside of their dads!
I love Christmas cookie season. These look delicious and a fun way to get my kiddos involved.
So true, Jamie!
Normally I’m not one for sweets, but chocolate covered cherries are the BEST! This sounds like an awesome version of that- I love it!
Many thanks, Sarah. And as a side note, I’m pretty sure these would pair quite well with a glass of bubbly champagne!
Wow, those cookies are beautiful! I love chocolate and cherry combination. You picked a perfect cookie to re-create. 🙂 And I love that collaboration with other bloggers, a great excuse to try new recipes! It’s always a great idea.
Thanks, our kids loved these and these were a lot of fun for all of us to put them together.
These look like some great Holiday cookies. I agree the kitchen is the best place to spend quality time with children.
Yum! Thumbprint cookies are one of my all time favorite holiday cookies – but I’ve always made them with a shortbread base. These chocolate based cookies look divine. I’ll have to add these to my list of cookies to try this holiday season 🙂
Thanks so much, Tara. You’re going to love these1
Thanks so much, Tara. You’re going to love these!
I always enjoy The Platter Talk Kids’ videos and recipes! It’s such a great thing to encourage kids in the kitchen like this. These Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies remind me of the chocolate cherry chocolates my late Dad used to buy at Christmas – wonderful flavours! I look forward to making these for my family this Christmas.