Oh-So-Chocolate Cherry Cookies

I live in cherry country, northern Michigan, and we like everything with cherries. Add chocolate; what could be better?

Original recipe makes 36 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups dried cherries
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup chocolate chunks (such as Nestle®)

PREP

15 mins
COOK

10 mins
READY IN

25 mins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat eggs into butter mixture one at a time; add vanilla extract and almond extract and mix until smooth.
Whisk flour, cocoa powder, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Stir 1/3 the flour mixture into butter mixture. Repeat with remaining flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Fold cherries, chocolate chips, and chocolate chunks into dough. Drop cookie dough by the spoonful 2-inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden and set, 10 to 15 minutes.