I have fond memories of biting into a chocolate cherry combination as a child. Whether it was chocolate covered cherries or a dark chocolate bar studded with dried fruit, something about that sweet tart fusion always felt extra indulgent. As I grew more interested in healthful baking, I aimed to craft a cookie that captured that decadent taste but with a few lighter ingredients. After plenty of experiments, these Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies were born bringing chewy centers, bursts of cherry sweetness, and rich cocoa flavor, all in a recipe that’s gentler on the waistline than a standard cookie. These treats offer a balanced dessert option, perfect for a midday or a sweet end to dinner.

Prep Time, Bake Time, Approximate Calories, and Servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 10-12 minutes per batch
Calories: ~130 per cookie (depending on ingredients)
Servings: About 16 cookies

(Calorie estimate for moderately sized cookies.)

Step-by-Step: Building a Lighter Chocolate Cherry Treat

1. Whisk Your Dry Ingredients

Begin with a mixing bowl for the dry components. Combine 1 cup of whole wheat flour (or a 50/50 blend with all purpose), ¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Sifting or whisking them together ensures even distribution, preventing any cocoa lumps. If you’d like a deeper chocolate taste, you can add a tablespoon of extra cocoa.

Potential Hiccup: Cookies turning dense.
Helpful Tip: Avoid overloading the recipe with whole wheat flour if you want a softer crumb. A partial blend with all purpose flour works well.

2. Cream a Lighter Butter Sugar Mix

In a separate bowl, cream together ⅓ cup of softened butter (or a plant based alternative) and ⅓ cup of a natural sweetener like coconut sugar, date sugar, or a lower calorie substitute. Beat with an electric mixer on medium until it looks slightly fluffy. This step introduces small air pockets for a more tender texture.

Potential Hiccup: Overly crumbly dough if the butter is too cold.
Helpful Tip: Ensure your butter is at room temperature, not melted. If you only have melted butter, chill it briefly until it thickens but remains soft.

3. Add an Egg and Flavor

Crack 1 large egg into the creamed mixture, plus 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. If you’re feeling adventurous, a touch of almond extract can highlight the cherry notes. Beat again until smooth. This ensures moisture and binding.

Potential Hiccup: Batter separating if ingredients aren’t at room temperature.
Helpful Tip: Let the egg rest at room temp for 10 minutes beforehand to help it mix more easily.

4. Combine Wet and Dry

Gradually pour the dry mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients, stirring on low speed or by hand. The resulting dough might be thick but should hold together. If it’s too dry, fold in a tablespoon of milk (dairy or non dairy). If it’s too sticky, dust in a pinch more flour.

Potential Hiccup: Overmixing leading to tough cookies.
Helpful Tip: Stir just until the flour streaks disappear, no more.

5. Fold in Cherries and Chocolate

Now for the fun part: stir in ½ cup of chopped dried cherries (prefer unsweetened or lightly sweetened) and ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips. If you like extra chocolatey cookies, consider another spoonful of chips. The chopped cherries distribute tangy bites throughout the dough, and dark chocolate ties everything together.

Potential Hiccup: Sticky dried fruit clumping.
Helpful Tip: Lightly coat the chopped cherries in a teaspoon of flour before mixing to help them integrate evenly.

6. Shape and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Scoop tablespoon sized portions of dough, spacing them about two inches apart. Gently flatten them with your fingertips, these cookies won’t spread a ton. Bake for 10–12 minutes, watching closely near the end. The edges will appear set, though the centers may look slightly soft. That’s okay; they firm up as they cool.

Potential Hiccup: Overbaking resulting in dry cookies.
Helpful Tip: If uncertain, check a cookie’s bottom. Once lightly browned, pull the sheet from the oven.

7. Cool and Enjoy

Allow the cookies to rest on the sheet for a minute or two, then transfer to a wire rack. Their internal heat finishes the cooking process, producing a tender crumb. Enjoy one warm or store them in an airtight container for up to five days. They’re also freezable in a zip top bag for about a month, making them ideal for portion controlled snacking.

Potential Hiccup: Sticking to the pan if removed too early.
Helpful Tip: Let them firm slightly before moving them with a spatula.

Nutrition Facts

A single cookie using moderate sugar, minimal butter, and dried cherries might look like this:

Calories: ~130
Fat: ~6g
Carbs: ~16-18g
Fiber: ~2-3g
Sugar: ~7-9g (depending on cherries and chocolate)
Protein: ~2-3g

Switching to partial whole wheat flour and controlling the sugar helps keep them lower in refined carbs than a typical double chocolate cookie.

Tips for Maximum Freshness and Storage

Keep extra cookies in a sealed container at room temperature. If you notice them drying out, slip a slice of apple or bread in the container for a day to help maintain softness. For longer storage, freeze them in single layers separated by parchment. Thaw at room temperature or zap in the microwave in 10 second increments.

On the Go Snack: Wrap a cookie or two in foil to tuck into lunchboxes, hiking packs, or your work bag for a sweet pick.

A Personal Take on Flavor Additions

I sometimes toss in chopped almonds or walnuts for extra crunch. If you can’t find dried cherries, dried cranberries or freeze dried raspberries offer a similar tang. Adding a pinch of espresso powder intensifies the chocolate depth. For a richer treat, swirl in a tablespoon of nut butter. Another trick is to drizzle the cooled cookies with a small amount of melted dark chocolate for an elegant finish, just keep an eye on how that affects your macros if you’re watching sugar intake.

Pairing Suggestions with Other Recipes

Serve these cookies next to a glass of unsweetened almond milk for a balanced snack. If you’re planning a brunch spread, place them alongside some fresh fruit or a tangy Easy & Healthy Breakfast Toast from Easy Gym Recipes. Alternatively, present them as an after dinner treat with a mug of herbal tea or a spiced Healthy Chai Latte. You can explore our downloadable meal planners to see how these cookies slot into your daily nutritional goals.

Pin This Recipe for Later

Eager to bake a batch soon? Pin these Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies with a short note: “Tangy sweet, lighter cookies for sweet cravings!” That way, they’re easy to retrieve when you want a chocolate cherry fix.