Recipe: Chocolate-Cherry Chunk Cookies (using dried cherries)

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CHUNK COOKIES
The cookie version of chocolate-covered cherries.

5 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water. Set aside.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and both sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in the melted chocolate. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in the flour.

Stir in the cherries and chips. The dough will be stiff. Form the dough into golf-ball-size portions, flatten them between your palms, and place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake until the centers of the cookies are set, about 15 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheets on wire racks.

Makes 36 cookies
Source: Recipes from Home by David Page and Barbara Shinn