Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

So I finally figured out what I was going to make with the dried cherries I bought from the Door County, WI market. I was trying to think of something simple that didnt call for me to change the cherries in any way becasue they are good just the way they are. I havent made cookies in a while so I decided that I would make chocolate chip cookies and add some cherries to it for a change in the recipe a bit. Speaking of recipes, I of course dont have one for chocolate chip cookies that I use on a regular bases so I had to research for one online. After looking around for a while I found a recipe for "Award winning chocolate chip cookies" on allrecies. I changed the recipe to reflect what I have at home in my cabinet and to reflect my taste, and my target audience. When I finished making it I understood why it was named award winning chocolate chip cookies. This is the by far the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I have ever used. Everyone that tried my Chocolate chip cherry cookies wanted to know how they stayed so soft and good even days later after baking. The secret to this recipe is the vanilla pudding in the mixture, "Yes" vanilla pudding. This makes it so the cookies are soft and moist, but not so that its more like a cake than a cookie. Believe me when I say, I know of all the ways you can mess up a cookie. I have made cookies that turned out more like peanut brittle than chocolate chip cookies, & ive made the ones that turn out like small cakes, but as the saying goes practice makes perfect.

                                            

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chip

1 Hershey bar (chopped)

1 cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips, hershey pieces & cherries. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.