There's something truly delightful about the mix of cozy oats, tart cherries, and the gentle kiss of chocolate in this Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe. These cookies bring a little springtime charm to your kitchen and a burst of flavor that’s just irresistible.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve always been a fan of cookies that offer more than just sweetness—ones with layers of texture and flavor that surprise you with every bite. This Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe hits that sweet spot perfectly, combining chewy oats and bright cherries with a subtle spice blend.
- Flavor Harmony: The blend of warm spices and tart cherries creates a cookie that’s both comforting and refreshingly vibrant.
- Textural Delight: Rolled oats add a hearty chew while the chocolate kisses provide melty centers.
- Simplicity Meets Elegance: Despite the gourmet vibe, the recipe is straightforward enough to whip up on a cozy afternoon.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a weekend treat or a thoughtful gift, these cookies never disappoint.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe plays a key role — from the oats’ satisfying chew to the cherries’ tart brightness. Knowing why helps you pick the best quality and get the most flavor.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: The heart of the cookie, adding chewiness and rustic texture that quick oats just can’t replace.
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure without weighing the cookies down.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just right and stay tender.
- Ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger: A warming spice mix that complements the cherries and chocolate perfectly.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors, balancing the sweetness beautifully.
- Unsalted butter: The secret to richness and that melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
- Light or dark brown sugar: Adds moistness and a deep caramel note.
- Granulated sugar: For just enough crunch and sweetness.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and give the cookies their soft interior.
- Vanilla extract: Boosts the sweetness with a fragrant, comforting aroma.
- Unsulphured molasses: Provides depth and molasses warmth that plays nicely with those spices.
- Dried tart cherries: Burst of tangy fruit that cuts through the sweetness.
- Chocolate kisses: The finale—a luxurious gooey chocolate center after baking.
- Vanilla almond bark (optional): For a pretty drizzle that adds a touch of elegance and extra sweetness.
- Coconut oil or vegetable shortening: Keeps the vanilla drizzle smooth and shiny.
Make It Your Way
This Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe is pretty flexible. I’ve played around with a few variations that still kept the heart of the flavors but added a little twist—feel free to experiment and find your favorite version.
- Variation: Once, I swapped dried cherries for dried cranberries for a sweeter, less tart version. It was a hit with my sweeter tooth friends!
- Dairy-Free Swap: Replace butter with vegan butter, and the cookies come out just as tender but without any dairy.
- Nutty Addition: Toasted chopped pecans or walnuts add a welcome crunch that I love, especially around the holidays.
- Spice Level: Don’t hesitate to adjust the cinnamon and ginger based on your preference—more warmth or less bite, whatever you love.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients with Care
Start by whisking together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Make sure everything is evenly mixed so every cookie gets that perfect blend of flavors. This stage sets the foundation, so give it a good toss to avoid clumps of baking soda or spices that could taste uneven.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened butter with brown and granulated sugars. I usually go medium speed for about two minutes. You’ll notice the mixture lighten and fluff up—that’s the texture we want for soft, tender cookies.
Step 3: Add Eggs, Vanilla & Molasses
Beat in the eggs one at a time on high speed—just until blended, don’t overmix here. Add the vanilla extract and molasses next, blending until just combined. Stop and scrape down the bowl as needed; this helps keep everything uniform and avoids pockets of flour or butter.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry, Fold in Cherries
Reduce your mixer to low and gently add the dry oat mixture to the batter. It might seem thick—that’s exactly right. Next, fold in the dried tart cherries on low speed. I find this preserves their shape and prevents too much crushing of the fruit.
Step 5: Chill the Dough for Better Shape
Cover the dough and refrigerate it for 30 to 60 minutes. This step is crucial because chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to scoop and helping the oats not soak up too much moisture. Don’t chill longer than an hour to keep the perfect cookie texture.
Step 6: Scoop, Bake & Add the Chocolate Kiss
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Roll the dough into roughly two-tablespoon balls—poke your hands with a bit of cooking spray mixed with flour to manage the stickiness. Space cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges start to golden but the centers still look soft.
Once out of the oven, let the cookies cool right on the sheets for 8 minutes before gently pressing a chocolate kiss into the center. This resting time ensures the cookie sets without breaking, and the chocolate melt creates that iconic cherry blossom effect.
Step 7: Optional Vanilla Drizzle for a Finishing Touch
If you want to add a finishing decorative touch, melt the vanilla almond bark and coconut oil in the microwave slowly at 50% power, stirring between 15-second intervals to avoid burning. Transfer the smooth mixture into a bag, snip a tiny hole, and drizzle over cookies for a delicate vanilla glaze.
Top Tip
From my experience making this Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe, a few little tricks really transform the results—and believe me, I’ve had my share of cookies that just didn’t quite make it!
- Keep Butter Room Temperature: If your butter is too cold, the creaming won’t be as fluffy, and the texture of your cookies will suffer.
- Don’t Overmix After Adding Flour: Mix just enough to combine ingredients; overmixing can make cookies tough.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: It ensures even-sized cookies for uniform baking and a polished look.
- Press Chocolate Kisses at Rest, Not Right Out: This prevents the cookie from cracking or the chocolate from melting too fast.
How to Serve Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with a light drizzle of vanilla bark because the cookies already have so much charm. But for parties, a sprinkle of finely chopped pistachios or pink sanding sugar gives a pretty, festive look and adds a subtle crunch that complements the chewy cookie perfectly.
Side Dishes
These cookies are perfect alongside a hot cup of tea, especially jasmine or a subtle green tea that contrasts nicely with the dried cherries and spices. They also pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an indulgent dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
For a spring brunch or shower, I once arranged these cookies on a platter garnished with edible cherry blossoms and fresh mint leaves. It’s simple but makes the display feel like a whimsical cherry orchard picnic—super fun and very “Instagrammable”.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After they’ve cooled completely, I store my cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They’ll stay fresh and chewy for up to 5 days at room temperature, which is perfect if you want to spread out the indulgence.
Freezing
If I want to stash some away, I freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet and then transfer them to a freezer bag. This way, I can bake fresh cookies anytime in about 12-14 minutes without sacrificing that fresh-from-the-oven feeling.
Reheating
To bring life back to stored cookies, I warm them in a low oven (around 300°F) for 5 minutes or pop one in the microwave for about 10 seconds. The kiss of chocolate softens again, and the oats regain their chewiness, almost like freshly baked!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Quick oats are softer and will change the texture of these cookies, making them less chewy and more cakey. For the best results, stick with old-fashioned rolled oats to maintain that signature chewiness in the Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe.
Chilling the dough helps solidify the butter and gives the oats time to absorb moisture evenly. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking and ensures a better texture with evenly distributed flavors.
Fresh cherries have a higher moisture content, which can alter the cookie dough’s consistency and baking time. If you want to try fresh cherries, it’s best to pit and chop them finely, reduce other liquids slightly, and bake carefully to avoid sogginess. Dried cherries work best for consistent results.
Using parchment paper or silicone baking mats is your best bet. They provide a non-stick surface without needing extra grease and help the cookies bake evenly without burning on the bottom.
Final Thoughts
This Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe is one I keep coming back to when I want a treat that's a little out of the ordinary but still feels like a warm hug. Its charming cherry and chocolate center, paired with familiar spices and oats, makes for a cookie that feels like a small celebration in every bite. Give it a try—you might just find yourself sharing this recipe with friends, just like I did.
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Cherry Cherry Blossom Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
- Yield: 28 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in the chewy, spiced goodness of Cherry Blossom Cookies featuring whole rolled oats, dried tart cherries, and a chocolate kiss center. Finished with an optional vanilla almond bark drizzle, these cookies blend warmth and sweetness perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
Add-ins
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
- 26-28 chocolate kisses
Vanilla Drizzle (Optional)
- 3 ounces vanilla almond bark, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk the oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger in a large bowl, then set aside.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the softened unsalted butter with light or dark brown sugar and granulated sugar at medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time and mix on high just until combined, then add vanilla extract and molasses, mixing until just incorporated. Scrape down sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry oat mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Beat in the dried tart cherries on low speed to distribute evenly.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes to firm up slightly and improve texture, but avoid chilling longer than 60 minutes to prevent oats from absorbing too much moisture.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or non-slip mats to prevent sticking.
- Form Cookie Balls: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, roll dough into balls. Since the dough is sticky, spray your hands lightly with cooking spray mixed with flour to ease handling. Place dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned but centers remain soft and appear slightly under-baked.
- Add Chocolate Kisses: Remove cookies from oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 8 minutes. Gently press one chocolate kiss into the center of each warm cookie so it slightly melts.
- Melt Vanilla Almond Bark (Optional): Combine chopped vanilla almond bark and ¼ teaspoon coconut oil or vegetable shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds, stir, then continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring between, until just melted and smooth.
- Drizzle Vanilla Bark: Transfer melted almond bark to a Ziploc bag, snip a small hole in one corner, and drizzle decoratively over the cooled cookies for a finishing touch.
Notes
- Spraying hands with cooking spray mixed with a little flour helps prevent sticky dough from clinging while rolling.
- Do not overbake; cookies should remain soft in the center for the best texture.
- Chilling dough is important but avoid refrigerating beyond 60 minutes to keep texture optimal.
- You can substitute dried cranberries for tart cherries if preferred.
- The vanilla almond bark drizzle is optional but adds a lovely sweet contrast and decorative finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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