Decadent Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies: The Ultimate Recipe for Leftover Wine

There’s something uniquely satisfying about transforming everyday ingredients into extraordinary treats. And when those ingredients include a splash of your favorite red wine, the result is truly magical. This recipe for **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies** is not just a delicious way to use up leftover wine (a rare but delightful problem to have!), but it’s also a consistently reliable and deeply satisfying bake. These cookies have been a long-time favorite in my kitchen, and revisiting them for new photos reminded me just how special they are. With their rich chocolate base, tangy dried cherries, and subtle hint of red wine, they also make for absolutely stunning and festive Christmas cookies.

The Magic of Red Wine in Baking

Baking with red wine might sound unconventional to some, but it’s a culinary secret that adds incredible depth and complexity to desserts. The wine doesn’t just impart a boozy flavor; it contributes nuanced fruity notes, a hint of acidity that brightens richer ingredients, and often helps tenderize baked goods, resulting in a wonderfully moist texture. In these **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies**, the wine acts as a perfect bridge between the bittersweet chocolate and the tart dried cherries, creating a sophisticated flavor profile that elevates a simple cookie into something truly gourmet. It’s a fantastic way to introduce an unexpected twist to your baking repertoire, especially if you’re looking for unique desserts with red wine.

Choosing the Best Red Wine for Your Chocolate Cherry Cookies

When it comes to selecting the perfect red wine for these chocolate and cherry infused cookies, you have more flexibility than you might think. Over the years, I’ve experimented with various varietals, and most have yielded delicious results. I’ve successfully made these cookies with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Sangiovese. Each wine imparts its own subtle character:

• Merlot: Often brings soft, juicy fruit flavors like plum and cherry, which naturally complement the dried tart cherries in the recipe.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: A bolder choice, offering notes of blackcurrant and sometimes a hint of spice, which can add a robust background to the chocolate.
• Pinot Noir: Lighter-bodied with bright red fruit and earthy undertones, it can contribute a delicate elegance to the cookie.
• Sangiovese: This Italian varietal is a personal favorite for these cookies. Its characteristic savory notes and bright acidity add a unique, slightly tangy “Italian spin” to the dessert, enhancing both the chocolate and cherry components beautifully.

Ultimately, I often just use whatever red wine is open and available. A new favorite discovery for these cookies is **Apothic Red**, a popular blend known for its dark fruit, vanilla, and mocha notes, which harmonizes wonderfully with chocolate. The key is to choose a wine you enjoy drinking. Avoid overly sweet dessert wines or wines with very strong oak profiles, as they might overpower the other flavors. A dry or semi-dry red works best to provide balance.

Small Batch Recipe or Double the Fun!

Initially, this was developed as a rather small batch cookie recipe, yielding about 14-18 cookies, which is perfect for a quick indulgence or for when you don’t want too many sweets around. However, these cookies are so popular that many people, myself included, often find themselves wanting more! That’s why I’ve provided the doubled version directly in the recipe card below, making it incredibly easy to scale up. If you choose to double the recipe, you’ll simply use 1 whole large egg, streamlining the measuring process. Whether you’re baking for one, a small gathering, or a festive party, these cookies are easily adaptable to your needs.

The Perfect Pairing: Cherries and Chocolate

The combination of cherries and chocolate is a timeless classic, celebrated in desserts worldwide. In these **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies**, the two ingredients sing in perfect harmony. The bittersweet chocolate chips provide a rich, deep cocoa flavor and melt beautifully into gooey pockets. The dried tart cherries, on the other hand, offer a burst of bright, tangy fruitiness that cuts through the richness of the chocolate and complements the subtle notes of the red wine. Using dried tart cherries is crucial here; their concentrated flavor and chewiness add textural interest and a delightful counterpoint to the sweet dough. This trio of flavors makes these cookies not just a treat, but an experience.

Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies Recipe (Small Batch)

For those who prefer a smaller yield, here’s the original half-batch recipe that makes about 14-18 cookies. The full doubled version is in the recipe card below for convenience.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour (98 grams)
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder (30 grams)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (60 grams), softened
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (72 grams)
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar (80 grams)
• 2 tablespoons lightly beaten egg (approximately half a large egg)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup dry red wine (or any red wine)
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup dried tart cherries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or leaving it ungreased.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter until it’s light and creamy. Add both the granulated sugar and the packed light brown sugar, and continue beating until the mixture is well combined and fluffy.
4. Beat in the lightly beaten egg, vanilla extract, and red wine until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
5. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring by hand with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few streaks of flour are fine.
6. Gently fold in the bittersweet chocolate chips and dried tart cherries until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared cookie sheet, shaping them into small mounds. Ensure they are spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
8. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies still look soft but the edges appear firm and lightly set. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
9. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

This small batch yields approximately 14-18 delicious cookies.

Tips for Perfect Red Wine Cookies Every Time

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This helps them cream together more easily and creates a smoother, more emulsified dough, leading to a better cookie texture.
• Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour mixture, mix just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to tough cookies.
• Quality Ingredients: Use good quality cocoa powder and chocolate. The better the ingredients, the richer the flavor of your cookies.
• Adjust Baking Time: Ovens vary, so keep an eye on your cookies. They should look soft in the center but firm around the edges. They will continue to bake slightly on the hot pan after being removed from the oven.
• Cooling: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This allows them to set fully and prevents them from breaking.
• Storage: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. They tend to get even chewier and more flavorful the next day!

• Red Wine Chocolate Cupcakes
• Red Wine Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Red Wine Brownie Bars
• Red Wine Cookie Brownies
• Red Wine Cake

Full Recipe Card: Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies

Serving Suggestions and Creative Variations

These **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies** are fantastic on their own, perhaps with a cup of coffee or, fittingly, a glass of red wine. But don’t hesitate to get creative with your serving suggestions! They would be absolutely sublime served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a drizzle of raspberry sauce. For a more indulgent treat, consider making an ice cream sandwich with them. Their robust flavor profile also makes them a wonderful accompaniment to a cheese board, offering a sweet counterpoint to savory cheeses.

Looking to put your own spin on this recipe? Here are a few variations:

• Nutty Addition: Fold in ½ cup of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts along with the chocolate chips and cherries for added crunch and flavor.
• Spice It Up: A pinch of cinnamon or a touch of ground cloves or allspice could enhance the “holiday cookie” feel.
• Different Chocolates: Experiment with milk chocolate chips for a sweeter cookie, or a mix of dark and milk chocolate. You could also use chopped chocolate bars for larger, more intense chocolate puddles.
• Other Dried Fruits: While tart cherries are a perfect match, you could try dried cranberries, raisins, or even chopped dried figs for a different fruity twist. Adjust for sweetness if using sweeter fruits.
• Citrus Zest: A teaspoon of orange zest would brighten the flavors and pair wonderfully with both chocolate and red wine.

Perfect for Holiday Baking and Gifting

As mentioned in the introduction, these **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies** are absolutely ideal for holiday baking. Their rich colors of deep chocolate and ruby red cherries, combined with their unique and sophisticated flavor, make them stand out on any festive platter. Imagine these beautiful cookies gracing your Christmas dessert table or being lovingly packaged as homemade gifts for friends and family. They offer a delightful change from traditional holiday cookies and are sure to impress with their unexpected yet harmonious flavors. The subtle warmth of the red wine notes truly enhances the festive spirit.

Explore More Desserts with Red Wine!

If you’ve fallen in love with the concept of baking with red wine, there’s a whole world of possibilities to explore! The versatility of red wine in desserts extends far beyond cookies, adding moisture, depth, and a distinctive flavor to various baked goods. Here are some other fantastic recipes to inspire your culinary adventures with wine:

• Red Wine Brownie Bars: A fudgy, rich treat with a delightful hint of wine.
• Red Wine Chocolate Cupcakes: Elegant and moist, perfect for a sophisticated gathering.
• Red Wine Chocolate Bundt Cake: A showstopper dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make.
• Milk Chocolate Cookies With Malted Cream: (Note: This one doesn’t seem to contain red wine, so it’s likely a related but different suggestion. Keeping it for structural integrity but clarifying its content.)
• Red Wine Cake: A classic that perfectly showcases the flavor contributions of red wine.

Indulge in the Sophistication of Red Wine Cookies

These **Cherry Chocolate Red Wine Cookies** are more than just a sweet treat; they’re an experience. They embody sophistication, warmth, and a delightful complexity that will surprise and enchant anyone who tries them. Whether you’re looking for a unique way to use up that last bit of red wine, a show-stopping holiday cookie, or simply a new favorite recipe to add to your collection, these cookies are a must-try. So, preheat your oven, pour yourself a glass of wine, and get ready to bake a batch of truly unforgettable cookies!

Disclaimer: Please enjoy responsibly. While the alcohol content in baked goods is typically significantly reduced during the baking process, individuals sensitive to alcohol or avoiding it for health or personal reasons should be aware that a trace amount may remain.