Double chocolate chunk and cherry cookies
Luxurious fruit, nuts and liqueur make these satisfyingly chewy chocolate chunk cookies ideal for a special occasion.
Ingredients
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú caster sugar
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú soft dark brown sugar
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 200g/7oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú dried sour cherries, soaked in water
- 2 tbsp cherry brandy
- 40²µ/1½´Ç³ú flaked almonds
- 75g/2½oz roasted hazelnuts, chopped
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú white chocolate, broken into small pieces
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
Place the butter and the caster sugar into a bowl and beat together until light and creamy. Add the sunflower oil and brown sugar and fold through to combine. Add the egg and vanilla essence and mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking powder.
Add the flour to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well to form a dough. Fold in the drained cherries, brandy, almonds, hazelnuts and the white and dark chocolate pieces. .
On a floured work surface, carefully roll out the dough to 1cm/½in thick. Using the cookie cutter of your choice, cut out 8–16 cookies (depending on the size of the cutter).
Place the cookies onto a greased baking tray (not too close together as they will spread). Place into the oven to bake for 15 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the trays for 8–10 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
