Almond Cherry Cookies Recipe With Sweet Fruit Bursts
Almond cherry cookies bring a delightful balance of nutty richness and fruity sweetness that makes them perfect for any occasion.
Soft and chewy with just enough crunch, they're ideal for afternoon tea, holiday gatherings, or simply when you need something sweet to brighten your day.
The flavor profile feels both elegant and comforting, satisfying cravings without being overly heavy.
Simple enough for weeknight baking yet impressive enough to share with guests, they strike that rare balance of approachable and special.
Every bite offers satisfying texture contrasts and complementary flavors that keep you reaching for another.
The cookies store beautifully and actually taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together.
Scroll to the recipe card below and see how quickly you can have a fresh batch cooling on your counter.
The Payoff of Cooking Almond Cherry Cookies
What Ingredients Need Picking Up for Almond Cherry Cookies
Tools That Make Almond Cherry Cookies Easier
Easy Preparation Process For Almond Cherry Cookies
Heat Your Oven
Set your oven to 350°F and let it warm up while you gather everything else. This takes about 10 minutes and gives your oven time to reach the right temperature for baking.
Combine Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, mix together your softened butter and sugar. Stir them for about 2 to 3 minutes until the texture becomes light and fluffy.
This step helps create cookies with the right structure.
Add the Egg and Flavoring
Pour in your egg, then add the vanilla and almond extracts to the bowl.
Beat everything together until the mixture looks smooth and well blended, with no streaks of egg visible.
Prepare Your Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine these ingredients together:
Whisk them together so the baking powder and salt spread evenly throughout.
Blend Wet and Dry Together
Gradually pour your dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring as you go. Mix just until everything comes together.
Stop stirring once the flour disappears; overmixing makes tough cookies.
Add the Cherries
Gently fold in your 1/2 cup of chopped cherries, making sure they’re scattered throughout the dough so each cookie gets some fruit.
Portion and Arrange the Dough
Spoon small portions of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie so they have room to spread while baking.
Bake the Cookies
Place the baking sheet in your preheated 350°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
The edges should turn golden brown when they’re ready to come out.
Cool on the Sheet First
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let your cookies sit there for a few minutes.
This helps them firm up a bit before moving them.
Finish Cooling
Transfer each cookie to a wire cooling rack.
Once they reach room temperature, they’re ready to eat.
How To Improve Cooking Almond Cherry Cookies
Creative Takes on Almond Cherry Cookies
What Goes Well With Almond Cherry Cookies
A Quick Guide to Storing Almond Cherry Cookies
FAQs
Can I use regular flour instead of almond flour?
You can, but the cookies will taste different. Almond flour gives them a nutty flavor and tender texture. If you swap it out completely, they’ll be denser and less flavorful. Try using half almond flour and half all-purpose flour if that’s what works for you.
What if I don’t have fresh cherries?
Dried cherries work great and are easier to chop evenly. Fresh cherries can be juicy and make the dough wet, so dried ones are actually a better choice. Just chop them into small pieces so they spread throughout the dough nicely.
Can I use other extracts instead of almond extract?
Vanilla alone works fine if almond extract isn’t available. You could also try cherry extract to boost the cherry flavor, or even a tiny bit of coconut extract. Just stick with one extract so the flavors don’t get confused.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?
Golden brown edges are your signal. The centers should still be slightly soft when you take them out. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t wait until they’re fully hard in the oven.
Almond Cherry Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27-35 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Almond cherry cookies bring together nutty almond flour and tart dried cherries for a tender, satisfying treat that your family will happily devour. Each bite offers you a simple balance of flavors that feels homemade and genuine.
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
Wet ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Mix-ins:
- 1/2 cup chopped cherries (fresh or dried)
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it reaches the right temperature while you prepare your dough.
- In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened butter with 1/2 cup sugar for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps your cookies have the right texture.
- Add 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract to your butter mixture and blend everything together until smooth.
- In another bowl, combine 1 cup almond flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder by whisking them together.
- Pour your dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the dough since that can make your cookies tough.
- Fold 1/2 cup chopped cherries into your dough so they distribute evenly throughout.
- Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each one so they have room to spread.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and your cookies are set.
- Let your cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely so they firm up properly.
Notes
- Don’t overmix once the dry ingredients hit the wet mixture, or your cookies will turn out tough instead of tender and delicate.
- Chop your cherries into small, even pieces so they distribute throughout the dough and don’t weigh down any single cookie.
- If you’re avoiding dairy, swap the butter for coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute in equal amounts, and the cookies will bake just the same.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a couple minutes after coming out of the oven; this helps them set without breaking apart when you move them to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 161 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg


Wanda Hamilton
Founder and Recipe Editor
Expertise
Bold Weeknight Cooking, Pantry Powered Meals, Sauce and Spice Building, Seasonal Ingredient Swaps, Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting, Food Photography and Simple Styling
Education
- Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
- Focus: Core culinary skills built through practical kitchen training, with a strong foundation for real service work.
National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP)Wanda Hamilton, Founder and Recipe Editor, cooks from Savannah, GA with a “big flavor, low fuss” mindset. Trained in Culinary Arts at Bellingham Technical College and certified in food safety through the NRFSP, she blends professional skill with everyday practicality. Wanda is known for smart finishing touches that elevate a dish in minutes, along with rigorous testing standards and clear visual cues that remove the guesswork. Her goal is simple: make every meal feel like a small but satisfying upgrade to your day.