Cherry Garcia Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cherries
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, (packed)
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup coarsely-chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat to 350°. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place dried cherries in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes to plump up. Drain well, pat dry, and coarsely chop. Whisk together salt, baking soda, and flour in a small bowl. Set aside. ?In large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Add flour mixture to butter mixture half at a time and mix until combined. Fold in cherries, white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts. Refrigerate cookie dough 30 to 45 minutes to firm up. Drop dough by the tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, placing cookies about 1-1/2 to 2 inches apart. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Cool 10 minutes on cookie sheets before removing to racks to cool completely. Store in a covered container. Makes about 36 cookies.
Inspired by the famous ice cream, these buttery cookies are loaded with cherries, chocolate, and optional macadamia nuts. To kick these up a notch for adults, try soaking the dried cherries in cherry liqueur overnight before draining and continuing with the recipe. Moist, delicious, and bursting with flavor in every bite, these cookies are sure to make your 10 best cookies list.