Optavia Chocolate Cherry Cookie Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour and cocoa; set aside.
• Beat butter in a med bowl on med speed until softened.
• Add sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Beat until well mixed.
• Beat in egg and vanilla, scraping the side of the bowl.
• Gradually beat in flour mixture.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2-inches apart on an ungreased cooking sheet.
• Press down the centers with your thumb.
• Drain cherries, reserving juice.
• Place a cherry in the center of each cookie in the depression you made with your thumb.
• Combine chocolate pieces and condensed milk in a small saucepan.
• Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted.
• Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate and milk mixture over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry.
• If the frosting is too thick, thin with additional cherry juice.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until edges of cookie is firm.
• Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.
• Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY COOKIES II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder and stir until smooth. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls about the size of a walnut (larger if desired). Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press center of each ball with thumb.
• Drain cherries and reserve juice. Place a cherry in indentation of each cookie ball.
• In a saucepan, heat condensed milk and chocolate chips until chips are melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of cherry juice. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of mixture over each cherry and spread to cover cherry. (More cherry juice may be added to keep frosting of spreading consistency.)
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

LOTS OF CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy.
• Beat the egg, coffee granules, and vanilla into the butter and sugar mixture until blended.
• Change the speed to low and pour in the flour mixture. Beat until just combined.
• Stir in semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and dried cherries.
• Drop spoonfuls of the dough two inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes per batch in the preheated oven, until cookies are just becoming firm.
• Let cool on baking sheets for two minutes.
• Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate and cherries. , Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake until firm, 12-14 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack.