If you’re looking for the perfect soft and chewy cookie packed with sweet cherry flavor, these Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies are about to become your new favorite treat. Made with buttery sugar cookie dough, pink cherry baking chips, and a touch of almond extract, these colorful cookies are as delicious as they are beautiful.

These homemade Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies bake up with tender centers, lightly crisp edges, and plenty of sweet cherry flavor in every bite. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, birthday parties, holiday cookie trays, or anytime you want a fun and festive dessert. The combination of powdered sugar and cornstarch helps create a bakery-style texture that stays soft for days.

Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply craving a unique twist on classic sugar cookies, this easy Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies recipe delivers reliable results and irresistible flavor every time.

🍒 Why You’ll Love This Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies Recipe

Soft, Chewy Texture

These Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies bake up with tender centers and lightly crisp edges. Powdered sugar and cornstarch help create a soft bakery-style texture that stays delicious for days.

Sweet Cherry Flavor

Cherry baking chips add bright, sweet cherry flavor throughout every cookie. A small amount of almond extract enhances the cherry notes without overpowering the classic sugar cookie base.

Beautiful for Special Occasions

With their pretty pink cherry chips and optional sanding sugar, these cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, birthday parties, holiday cookie trays, bake sales, and spring desserts.

Easy to Make

This homemade Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies recipe uses simple baking ingredients and straightforward steps. The dough comes together quickly, chills briefly, and bakes into soft, colorful cookies every time.

Great Make-Ahead Cookie

These Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies store well at room temperature and can also be frozen, making them a convenient make-ahead dessert for parties, holidays, and busy baking days.

Crowd-Pleasing and Kid-Friendly

The combination of buttery sugar cookie dough and sweet cherry chips creates a flavor that both kids and adults love. They’re a fun alternative to traditional sugar cookies and always stand out on a dessert table.

Perfect for Freezing

You can freeze both the baked cookies and the unbaked cookie dough, making this recipe ideal for advance preparation. Simply thaw and enjoy whenever a cookie craving strikes.

🍒 Ingredients Notes

Unsalted Butter

Unsalted butter gives these Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies a rich, buttery flavor and tender texture. Make sure the butter is softened but not melted so it creams properly with the sugars and helps the cookies bake up soft instead of greasy or flat.

Granulated Sugar

Granulated sugar adds classic sugar cookie sweetness and helps create lightly crisp edges. It balances the rich butter and gives the cookies their traditional homemade sugar cookie flavor.

Powdered Sugar

Powdered sugar helps make these cherry chip cookies extra tender. It creates a softer, bakery-style texture and keeps the centers delicate without making the cookies too cakey.

Egg

One large egg adds structure, moisture, and richness to the cookie dough. For best results, use a room-temperature egg so it blends smoothly into the butter and sugar mixture.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract adds warmth and enhances the buttery sugar cookie base. It pairs beautifully with the sweet cherry chips and gives the cookies a classic bakery flavor.

Almond Extract

A small amount of almond extract boosts the cherry flavor without overpowering the cookies. Cherry and almond are a natural pairing, but a little goes a long way, so stick with the measured amount.

All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour provides the structure for these soft Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies. Spoon and level the flour instead of scooping directly from the bag to avoid using too much, which can make the cookies dry or dense.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch helps create a soft, tender crumb and gives these cookies their bakery-style texture. It also helps keep the cookies from becoming too firm after they cool.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda

A combination of baking powder and baking soda helps the cookies rise slightly while still spreading just enough. This gives the cookies soft centers, lightly crisp edges, and a balanced sugar cookie texture.

Fine Salt

Salt balances the sweetness of the sugar and cherry baking chips. Using fine salt allows it to blend evenly throughout the dough so every bite tastes flavorful and well-rounded.

Cherry Baking Chips

Cherry baking chips are the star ingredient in this cherry chip sugar cookie recipe. They add sweet cherry flavor, pretty pink color, and a fun bakery-style look. Press a few extra chips on top before baking for the prettiest cookies.

Pink Sanding Sugar

Pink sanding sugar is optional, but it adds sparkle, color, and a lightly crisp finish. It makes these cookies especially pretty for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, birthday parties, and holiday cookie trays.

🍒 How to Make Cherry Chip Cookies

Cream the Butter and Sugars

Start by beating the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps create soft Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies with tender centers and lightly crisp edges.

Add the Egg and Extracts

Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth and creamy. The vanilla adds classic sugar cookie flavor, while the almond extract enhances the sweet cherry flavor without overpowering the dough.

Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking the dry ingredients first helps evenly distribute the leavening so the cookies bake with the right texture.

Mix the Cookie Dough

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing, because too much mixing can make the cookies dense instead of soft and chewy.

Fold in the Cherry Baking Chips

Gently fold the cherry baking chips into the cookie dough until evenly distributed. These sweet pink chips give the cookies their signature cherry flavor and colorful bakery-style look.

Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and gives the dough time to develop better flavor.

Scoop and Shape the Cookies

Scoop the chilled dough into 1 1/2 tablespoon portions and roll each portion into a ball. For extra sparkle, roll the dough balls in pink sanding sugar before baking.

Bake Until Just Set

Place the dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, gently flatten the tops, and bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are set and lightly golden while the centers still look slightly soft.

Cool Before Serving

Let the Cherry Chip Cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This allows the centers to finish setting while keeping the cookies soft, chewy, and bakery-style delicious.

🍒 Pro Tips for the Best Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies

Use Properly Softened Butter

Softened butter is essential for creating light and fluffy cookie dough. The butter should be soft enough to leave an indent when pressed but not so warm that it appears greasy or melted. Properly softened butter helps the cookies achieve the perfect texture.

Measure Flour Correctly

Too much flour can make Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies dry and dense. For the most accurate results, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it with a knife rather than scooping directly from the bag.

Don’t Skip the Chilling Step

Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes helps control spreading and improves the overall texture. The cookies will bake thicker, softer, and more evenly when the dough is properly chilled.

Avoid Overmixing the Dough

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Overmixing develops excess gluten, which can lead to tougher cookies instead of soft and tender ones.

Press Extra Cherry Chips on Top

For bakery-style Cherry Chip Cookies, gently press a few extra cherry baking chips onto the tops of the dough balls before baking. This simple step makes the cookies more attractive and highlights the cherry flavor.

Use a Cookie Scoop

A cookie scoop helps ensure that all of the cookies are the same size. Uniform cookies bake more evenly and create a professional-looking finished batch.

Watch the Bake Time Carefully

Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set and lightly golden but the centers still appear slightly soft. The cookies will continue to bake from residual heat as they cool on the baking sheet.

Let the Cookies Cool on the Baking Sheet

Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This helps the centers finish setting while keeping the cookies soft and chewy.

Add Cherry Extract for More Flavor

If you love a stronger cherry flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon of cherry extract to the dough. A small amount provides extra flavor without overwhelming the buttery sugar cookie base.

Freeze Dough for Future Baking

Cherry Chip Sugar Cookie dough freezes beautifully. Scoop and freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Bake directly from frozen by adding 1 to 2 extra minutes to the baking time.

🍒 Cherry Chip Sugar Cookie Variations

White Chocolate Cherry Chip Cookies

Add 1 cup of white chocolate chips along with the cherry baking chips for an extra sweet and creamy flavor combination. The white chocolate pairs beautifully with the cherry flavor and creates a bakery-style cookie that looks as good as it tastes.

Cherry Almond Sugar Cookies

Increase the almond extract to 1/2 teaspoon for a stronger almond flavor. Cherry and almond are a classic pairing, making this variation perfect for anyone who loves rich, nutty bakery-style desserts.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Replace half of the cherry baking chips with semi-sweet chocolate chips. The combination of cherry and chocolate creates a decadent cookie reminiscent of chocolate-covered cherries.

Valentine’s Day Cherry Cookies

Roll the cookie dough balls in pink or red sanding sugar before baking and top with festive sprinkles. These colorful Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day parties, gift boxes, and holiday dessert trays.

Cherry Cheesecake Cookies

Mix 4 ounces of softened cream cheese into the butter mixture before adding the dry ingredients. This creates a richer cookie with a subtle cheesecake flavor that pairs wonderfully with the cherry chips.

Cherry Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Fold 1/2 cup of colorful sprinkles into the dough for a fun and festive variation. These cookies are ideal for birthdays, celebrations, and special occasions.

Cherry Extract Cookies

Add 1/4 teaspoon cherry extract to the dough for a more intense cherry flavor. This variation is great for cherry lovers who want the fruit flavor to stand out even more.

Glazed Cherry Sugar Cookies

Drizzle cooled cookies with a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar and milk. The sweet glaze adds an attractive finish and extra sweetness to the cookies.

Cherry Coconut Cookies

Stir 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut into the dough. The coconut adds texture and a subtle tropical flavor that complements the sweet cherry chips.

Frozen Cherry Chip Cookie Sandwiches

Spread vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting between two cookies to create delicious cookie sandwiches. Freeze for a chilled treat that’s perfect during warmer months.

🍒 Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

How to Store Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies

Once completely cooled, store the Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keeping the cookies sealed helps maintain their soft and chewy texture while preventing them from drying out.

Refrigerator Storage

While these cookies do not require refrigeration, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Allow the cookies to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Freezing Baked Cookies

Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies freeze beautifully. Place the completely cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper if needed. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature before serving.

Freezing Cookie Dough

For easy future baking, scoop the cookie dough into individual portions and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. The dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Baking Frozen Cookie Dough

You can bake the frozen cookie dough directly from the freezer without thawing. Simply add 1 to 2 extra minutes to the baking time and bake as directed. This makes it easy to enjoy fresh Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies whenever the craving strikes.

Make the Dough Ahead of Time

The cookie dough can be prepared up to 48 hours in advance and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator. Chilling the dough overnight can even enhance the flavor and help create thicker cookies.

Perfect for Holiday Baking

Because both the dough and baked cookies freeze well, this recipe is ideal for holiday baking, cookie exchanges, Valentine’s Day treats, baby showers, and special events. Preparing the cookies ahead of time can help reduce stress on busy baking days.

Keep Cookies Soft Longer

To help maintain softness, place a slice of sandwich bread in the storage container with the cookies. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread and stay fresh and soft for a longer period.

🍒 Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies FAQ

Can I make Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies ahead of time?

Yes, Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies are great for making ahead. You can prepare the cookie dough up to 48 hours in advance and keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the dough balls for up to 3 months and bake them directly from frozen.

Do I have to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough is highly recommended because it helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. It also gives the dough time to firm up, resulting in thicker, softer, bakery-style Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies.

Why did my cookies spread too much?

Cookies may spread too much if the butter was too warm, the dough was not chilled, or the flour was under-measured. For best results, use softened but not melted butter, chill the dough for 30 minutes, and spoon and level the flour when measuring.

Why are my Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies dry?

Dry cookies are usually caused by too much flour or overbaking. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly from the bag. Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set and the centers still look slightly soft.

Can I add cherry extract?

Yes, you can add 1/4 teaspoon cherry extract for a stronger cherry flavor. Use a small amount because cherry extract can become overpowering if too much is added.

Can I use white chocolate chips with cherry baking chips?

Yes, white chocolate chips pair beautifully with cherry baking chips. For a sweeter variation, replace part of the cherry baking chips with white chocolate chips or add a small handful to the dough.

Can I freeze Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies?

Yes, baked Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies freeze well for up to 3 months. Let the cookies cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container with parchment paper between layers. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Can I freeze the cookie dough?

Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Scoop the dough, freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. Bake from frozen and add 1 to 2 extra minutes to the baking time.

What can I use if I cannot find cherry baking chips?

If cherry baking chips are unavailable, you can use white chocolate chips with 1/4 teaspoon cherry extract for flavor. You can also use chopped dried cherries, but the texture and sweetness will be slightly different from the original recipe.

How do I make the cookies look bakery-style?

For bakery-style Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies, press a few extra cherry baking chips onto the tops of the dough balls before baking. You can also roll the dough balls in pink sanding sugar for sparkle and color.

🍪 More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love

If you love these Cherry Chip Sugar Cookies, be sure to try some of our other fun and bakery-style cookie recipes. From fruity favorites to cookie shop-inspired treats, there’s something for every cookie lover.

• Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies – Soft cookies filled with a creamy cheesecake center and bursting with strawberry flavor.


• Dot Cake Cookies – Colorful, nostalgic cookies inspired by the classic candy dots for a fun and festive dessert.


• Melon Cream Cookies – Light and fruity cookies with a sweet melon flavor and soft, bakery-style texture.


• Ube Coconut Thumbprint Cookies – Vibrant purple cookies featuring tropical coconut flavor and a delicious thumbprint center.


• Crumbl Churro Cookies – Soft cinnamon sugar cookies inspired by the popular bakery favorite, complete with irresistible churro flavor.

Whether you’re baking for a holiday, special occasion, or simply satisfying a cookie craving, these homemade cookie recipes are guaranteed to become new family favorites.