Cherry Vanilla Cookies

5 from 4 votes

A soft vanilla cookie dotted with chewy dried cherries. They are simple to make, full of flavor, and one of my favorite weekend bakes.

Prep Time10

Total Bake Time24

Chill30

Total Time1 4

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: cookies

Calories: 160kcal

Weigh or measure both sugars into a bowl and set them aside. Weigh or measure the flour, then add the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to blend everything together.
In a mixer bowl, cream the butter until it’s smooth and light. Add both sugars and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean paste, then mix for about a minute, just until combined. I try not to overbeat the egg, it keeps the cookies soft.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and turn the mixer to low speed. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. If a little flour remains at the bottom of the bowl, use a spatula or your hands to gently fold it in. Add the dried cherries and mix until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough. Cover the bowl and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a medium cookie scoop, place twelve mounds of dough onto one of the prepared pans, spacing them a couple of inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft. Move the cookies to a cooling rack once out of the oven.