Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I created these after a trip up north to Traverse City, Michigan’s Cherry Festival. Wonderful with their dried cherries! A big hit wherever I take them!

Original recipe makes 3 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening (such as Crisco®)
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 cup dried tart cherries
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 (12 ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chunks (such as SACO®)

PREP

30 mins
COOK

11 mins
READY IN

2 hrs

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Beat the unsalted butter, butter flavored shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time; beat in the vanilla extract and almond extract with the last egg. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the cherries, walnuts, pecans, and chocolate chunks, mixing just enough to evenly combine. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until browned around the edges, 11 to 13 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes; remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.