Chewy Chocolate Cookies with Rum-Soaked Cherries
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert, Cookies, Baked Goods
Cuisine: American, Holiday, Fall, Winter
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 24
 
Ingredients
  • 16 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 heaping c. Dried Cherries
  • 2 Tbsp. Dark Rum
  • 2 c. All-Purpose Flour
  • ½ c. Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tsp. Instant Espresso Powder
  • 2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • ¾ tsp. Salt
  • 10 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1½ c. Light Brown Sugar
  • ½ c. Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
  • 4 Eggs
Instructions
  1. Place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. Melt, stirring occasionally, then remove the bowl and allow to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the dried cherries and rum in a small bowl. Allow the cherries to plump, tossing occasionally for half an hour or so.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes on medium speed. Beat in the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in the cooled melted chocolate.
  5. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Stir in the rum-soaked cherries. The dough will be quite wet at this point. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the cookie dough to stand at room temperature until it has thickened to a scoop-able, fudge-like consistency, about 30 minutes.
  6. While the dough is setting up, preheat the oven to 350° and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Use an ice-cream scoop to form large balls of dough (about 3 Tbsp.). Leave plenty of space between the cookies--they'll spread quite a bit.
  7. Bake until the edges are set and the tops are cracked but still slightly underdone, about 12 minutes. Allow to on the baking sheet for 10 minutes until they've set up. Eat them warm with a cold glass of milk or transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
Recipe by strawberryplum at http://www.strawberryplum.com/chewy-chocolate-cookies-with-rum-soaked-cherries/