I have this thing for dried cherries.

Let’s call it a . . . mutual relationship.

Speaking of mutual relationship’s, that is how Mr. How Sweet’s best man described their relationship at our wedding. Yes. That was kind of odd, and I’m so glad I have the video footage to forever remind them of that.

Dried cherries remind me of vacationing in Northern Michigan. We would always get a large bag of dried cherries at American Spoon, and they would be devoured within days.

And yes, I was the one who was doing the devouring.

Now that my tastebud’s have matured a bit, I couldn’t think of any better to go with dried cherries than chocolate.

Dark chocolate especially.

I don’t often enjoy dark chocolate. I prefer chocolate in the milk variety – you know, the kind that clogs arteries and adds bulk to your waistline.

But dark chocolate fits the bill for these tart cherries.

Plus, it’s the healthy kind of chocolate. So you can eats lots of it. Which equals eating lots of these cookies.

I made the cookies specifically with my dad in mind. He loves dried cherries, too, and chocolate. And northern Michigan, so I knew these would be a hit.

I gave him almost the entire batch, leaving 4-5 cookies on the counter at home to finish cooling.

It wasn’t 5 minutes later that I got a picture message from Mr. How Sweet. He asked ‘what is in these cookies that I wouldn’t like? They look weird. Don’t fib.’

I knew Mr. How Sweet wouldn’t like the cookies. He didn’t even try one. They hint of cherry peeking through the chocolate top was enough to turn him away.

He has that darn, 5 year-old palate.

You know, he is always looking for ways to be more like my dad, since my dad does everything perfectly. You’d think he would eat these cookies.

Maybe he will learn in time.

The chocolate cookie recipe comes from Mother Lovett’s recipe vault, and it is the same one I used for cookies at Christmas.

They dough is similar to crack – you can’t stop eating it. And once you do stop eating it and get it on the baking sheet, the most incredible, moist, chocolatey cookies are born.

These cookies melt in your mouth. The rich chocolate combined with the tart, sweet cherries is a perfect combination.

 

Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.

Fold in chocolate chips and cherries. Roll into balls and set on baking sheet.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

I am super excited to go to Fitbloggin’ this weekend.

I’m a little worried about Mr. How Sweet. He will probably be a shriveled bag of bones when I return home Sunday evening since he is incapable of cooking.

Who will check up on him?