Shelly's Recipe

CHERRY GARCIA COOKIES

Category: Cookies

1 cup dried cherries
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, (packed)
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely-chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Let sit 30 minutes to plump up. Drain well, pat dry, and coarsely chop.

Whisk together salt, baking soda, and flour in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Add flour mixture to butter mixture half at a time and mix until combined. Fold in cherries, white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts. Refrigerate cookie dough 30 to 45 minutes to firm up.

Drop dough by the tbsp onto prepared baking sheets, placing cookies about 1-1/2 to 2 inches apart. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Cool 10 minutes on cookie sheets before removing to racks to cool completely. Store in a covered container.