A soft and chewy cookie bar packed with rich chocolate chips and sweet, juicy maraschino cherries — every bite is a perfect mix of nostalgia and indulgence.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped and patted dry
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plus more for topping, if desired)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or grease well.
- Cream butter and sugars:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy and smooth. - Add egg and vanilla:
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined. - Mix dry ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. - Fold in mix-ins:
Gently stir in chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips. - Spread in pan:
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Top with extra chocolate chips if desired. - Bake:
Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are okay). - Cool and serve:
Let cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Calories and Servings:
Makes about 16 bars
Approx. 220–250 calories per bar
Let me know if you’d like a gluten-free version or a white chocolate variation!