Cherry dark chocolate oatmeal cookies are packed with chunks of chocolate, tart cherries, coconut, and a hint of almond. They are the perfect chewy cookie for any day of the week and any occasion.

What I love about cookies is that they are so simple to make and the perfect sweet to snack on. The main ingredients in a cookie recipe (butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, and salt) are pantry staples for even the infrequent baker. They are easy to whip up for a last-minute visit, and the flavor combinations are endless.

You can never go wrong with chocolate in a cookie. There's always the classic chocolate chunk cookies made with semi-sweet chocolate and for white chocolate lovers, there are white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies.

There's something about the combination of tart cherries and dark chocolate! When mixed with a hint of almond extract and some shredded coconut, the flavors come together for a delicious chewy, oatmeal cookie. Serve with a cold glass of milk...Yum!!

Before you begin

Take out the following baking equipment.

Digital kitchen scale
Two large baking sheet pans
Parchment paper
Stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
3 small bowls
Medium bowl
Whisk
Cookie scoop
Wire cooling rack

Allow all of your ingredients to come to room temperature.
Read the recipe through from start to finish.

Understanding ingredients

This recipe calls specifically for old fashioned oats, which adds a lovely texture to these chocolate oatmeal cookies. However, if you do not have old fashioned oats on hand, you can substitute with quick-cooking oats. These oats are cut into more pieces, rolled thinner, and steamed longer so that they cook faster. The texture will be a little less thick and chewy, but they will work in the recipe.

The flavor of almond extract pairs well with cherries. When using extracts, always use the pure version whenever possible. They will yield the best flavor. Pure almond extract is made with bitter almonds. In contrast, non-pure extracts can be made with bitter almond oil and ethyl alcohol or even synthetic chemicals that mimic the almond flavor, such as in imitation almond extract. Quality always trumps quantity in flavor.

The type of chocolate you use for these chocolate oat cookies is entirely your preference. I always highly recommend using good quality chocolate for baking, as the flavor is unmatched with chocolate that has fillers and additives. Using a chocolate baking bar or a good quality chocolate bar is ideal. I prefer dark chocolate for this recipe, but semi-sweet would equally be good.

How to make cherry dark chocolate oatmeal cookies

Cream butter and sugars. Use a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to cream together the softened butter and both sugars until smooth and creamy.

Add eggs and almond extract. Add the eggs, one a time, and mix until incorporated. Once the eggs are mixed, add the almond extract and continue to mix to combine.

Whisk the dry ingredients together. In a bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. With your mixer on low, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until combined.

Add the mixins. Remove your bowl from the mixer, and add the dried cherries, chocolate, and coconut. Mix by hand just until evenly combined.

Scoop your cookie dough. Use a 3 tablespoon scoop to measure out cookie dough. Roll into balls, place on your prepared baking sheet pans, and slightly flatten into disc-like shapes.

Bake. Bake the cookies at 350°F/177°C for 11-13 minutes or until the edges are golden brown, and the centers are still light in color.

Why these chocolate oatmeal cookies work

There are a lot of oatmeal cookie recipes out there, but here's why these cookies taste so good.

Moist and tender centers
Buttery and flavorful
Slightly crisp edges and chewy centers
Lots of oats
Almond extract flavored

Tips and takeaways

For the ideal softened butter, it should begin to soften but still be slightly cool to the touch. It shouldn't feel like it's melting at all. It's best to take your butter out an hour before baking rather than microwave it to soften.
Fold your mixins by hand into your cookie dough to reduce the chance of overmixing the dough. Overmixing can result in a tougher cookie.
It's best to bake one batch of cookies at a time rather than having to rotate your cookie sheet pans during baking. Focusing on one batch allows for more even baking.

More cookie recipes you'll love

Make sure to tag me @thesweetoccasion on Instagram and leave me a review below if you make these Cherry Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. I'd love to see your creations and read your feedback. And if you would like to make this recipe later, be sure to pin this recipe using the button on any of these images. Let's make every occasion a sweet occasion!