I can’t believe it’s week 12 of this year’s 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies. The past 12 weeks have flown by. Although it’s hard to choose a favorite cookie that I baked over the last 12 weeks, if my family had to choose it would probably be this one. It’s a soft, rich delicious chocolate cookie loaded with chocolate chips and tart dried cherries. It’s rolled in powdered sugar so there is a beautiful contrast between the crackled white outside and dark chocolatey inside.
I saw this recipe on Sweet Peas Kitchen and thought it sounded amazing. Christina found the original recipe in Taste of Home Fall Baking 2010. Black Forest is such a great name for a cookie. The name immediately conjures up memories of rich, delicious chocolate cake filled with cherries. And this cookie definitely lives up to it’s delicious name.
The original recipe calls for espresso powder, but I don’t like coffee. I don’t drink it and I don’t like coffee flavored candy or baked goods. I’ve tried using espresso powder in the past (it’s used to accentuate the chocolate flavor) but I didn’t like it because all I could smell when it was baking was the coffee. Nielsen-Massey sent me a selection of their extracts, including their high quality chocolate extract, so I decided to use the chocolate extract to boost the chocolate flavor instead of espresso powder.
I made the recipe twice because the first time my cookies came out too flat. The second time I left out the hot water and the consistency was better. I doubled the recipe because the original recipe made so few cookies it seemed more like half a batch of cookies. The second time around I used a tip Martha Stewart uses in her chocolate crinkle cookies. She rolls them first in granulated sugar and then rolls them in powdered sugar so that they come out very white. I also added more cherries and chocolate chips. My adapted recipe is below.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon chocolate extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried tart cherries (1.5 ounces)
- 1/2 granulated sugar
- 1/2 to 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
- Melt butter in a second small bowl in a microwave or a small saucepan over low heat.
- Add cocoa to melted butter, whisking until smooth. Stir in the eggs, chocolate and vanilla extracts, fully blending in each one before adding the next.
- Stir chocolate mixture into flour mixture just until combined.
- Fold chocolate chips and cherries into the dough until evenly distributed. Shape into generous 2 inch balls using a cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon measure.
- Roll balls in granulated sugar, then roll balls in powdered sugar (use lots of powdered sugar). Place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12 – 14 minutes or until cookies are cracked, yet still soft, do not overbake. (The look a bit uncooked even when they're done.)
- Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Here are my 12 weeks of Christmas Cookies all boxed up and ready to give away.
Thanks for baking/following along with me. I wish I could send one of these boxes out to all of my amazing readers. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
This post is part of a 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies blog hog. Be sure and check out all of the fabulous cookies the other 12 weeks of Christmas Cookies bakers baked up this week.
Some of the links in my posts may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Barbara Bakes when you shop!
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
When I first read the name of the cookie i was wondering where the “crinkle” part of the name came from. After seeing the picture of the cookie then it become obvious
In my humble opinion the Black Forest Crinkle Cookies are the ones that stand out the most in the boxed cookies.
Happy baking,
Matthew
Barbara these look fabulous!
I love the idea of adding cherries to a chocolate crinkle cookie. It’s been a great 12 weeks! Thanks for sharing your goodies.
Happy Holidays!
Loving the added cherries! I bet they are heavenly.
mickey
I love the look of these!! I think I’ll make these for Christmas!
Great cookies! They look and sound so divine.
Cheers,
Rosa
Chocolate crinkle cookies have always been a favorite of mine, but your addition of cherries and chocolate chips really takes them up to the next level. These sound fantastic.
Love all the cookies recipes! So festive. The mood is in the air….. Hope you’re having a fabulous day, Barbara. Take care and stay warm.
Blessings, Kristy
So. many. cookies! They all looks so delicious Barbara! I’m jealous of the person who gets that lovely little package. Hoping you’re having a lovely weekend
This box is beautiful. I love anything with cherries. These might be made this afernoon.
I am so happy that you enjoyed the recipe!
The addition of the chocolate extract sound divine! I will have to try that the next time I make these cookies, which will be really soon because I am putting them in my holiday cookie boxes too!! Happy Holidays!
These are gorgeous cookies, Barbara!
These look heavenly!
These look fabulous! Hope you’re having a great holiday season!
These look really pretty and cherry with dark chocolate sounds so inviting too. I’ve never made a crinkle cookie before.
These look really pretty and cherry with dark chocolate sounds so inviting too. I’ve never made a crinkle cookie before.
What a beautiful box of beautiful cookies! I had to stop and admire each one of the cookie in that jumble of delights!
Those are picture perfect Barbara! I am crossing my fingers and knocking on wood that this stomach flu is done going through this house so I can start to bake again!
Cherries and chocolate – one of my favorite flavor combinations. Your cookies are wonderful, Barbara, and I’m sure your lovely gift boxes will be very happily received.
Happiest holiday wishes to you and your family.
Chocolate and cherry? Yes please! These look heavenly Barbara, and your boxed up cookies will be so appreciated. I still have my last cookie to post but I’m not making them till tomorrow,l right before I go to my cookie swap.
Have a great day. Last Sunday before Christmas <l:-)
I love crinkle cookies, but I’ve never made them with cherries. That sounds excellent! Can’t wait to try your variation.
mmmmm, these sound so wonderful, and your cookies box is lovely, those are some lucky recipients!
These are gorgeous, and chocolate and cherry is a winning flavour combination.
I like the tips, especially to roll them in white sugar before the powdered sugar. It is a nice contrast. It’s a good idea to use the chocolate extract too. I think I actually have some on hand:) MERRY CHRISTMAS, Barbara.
Yum. I love black forest but I would never think of making it into a cookie.
These look delicious! I love the idea of adding dried cherries. Plus I’m crazy jealous that Nielsen-Massey sent you all those extracts….they are my favorite!
Love these cookies Barbara!
And as always, I’m so impressed with your Twelve Weeks of Christmas Cookies. What lovely presentation in the box and a welcome gift in any home.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
love,
Mags
These cookies would definitely get my vote: I am a chocoholic and I love these, especially with the added cherries.
The black forest crinkles sound fantastic, Barbara! And what a lovely box of cookies. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas too!
These are really so pretty!
Last year was my very first time baking these treats. It was love at first bite.
Adding some dried cherries could be a different twist I can offer at the sweet table this year. Thanks for sharing your discovery Barbara ;o)
Happy Holidays going forward and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
P.S. I gave Mommy an extra hug dedicated to you and your Mom
Black Forest Crinkles = fantastic
These sound awesome! I make some that look similar but sure don’t sound nearly as wonderful. Yum!!
That is one beautiful cookie Barbara and your cookie box is GORGEOUS! What a wonderful gift that will be.
These Black Forest Cookies may sneak onto the cookie tray I bring to my daughter’s house on Christmas-she loves Black Forest Cake so I know she’ll love these.
Merry Christmas to you and your family-and thank you for sharing all your over the top recipes…….I’ll be making your Snickerdoodle Bread for friends tomorrow.
Carol
Thanks! I hope your friends love the snickerdoodle bread!
Oh Barbara, these are sooo good !
I cant believe 12 weeks have gone by either!!
And all these delicious cookies u have baked along!!
Oh soo good!!!
Pretty cookies for the holidays!!!
Happy holidays!!
You have one amazingly good looking box of cookies there. I think the recipient’s will be more than pleased with all those beautiful cookies.
I can see how these black forest crinkles would be favorites. I myself love the chocolate and cherry combination.
I hope you and your family have wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!
I wish I was on your cookie giveaway list, they look fabulous! And with the addition of tart dried cherries, these cookies really don’t need espresso – as much as I do love coffee and chocolate, I wouldn’t want that extra flavor to get in the way of the cherry flavor. Perfect cookies, Barbara!
Hope you are getting through the holidays well, honey, and I am thinking of you! *hugs*
What a beautiful gift box! I’m sure everyone who receives your assortment of cookies will be forever in your debt. =)
That box of cookies is on its way to Atlanta, right? Black Forest Cookies…brilliant, my lady! Brilliant.
Chris if I had one left I’d put your name on it and send it to Atlanta!
You have one amazingly good looking box of cookies there. I think the recipient’s will be more than pleased with all those beautiful cookies. I can see how these black forest crinkles would be favorites. I myself love the chocolate and cherry combination. I hope you and your family have wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!
Oh my goodness! I can practically inhale these – because I love a combo crunchy-soft cookie. Can’t wait to try them! What a great assortment you have here.
Black Forest is my favorite flavor combo. They look delish!
I am thinking of making these for an event in the future. Does anyone know if these freeze well?? They sound delicious!
Hi Lindsay – I’m sorry I don’t have any experience freezing these. My guess is they would freeze just fine.