Cherry Lavender Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

A regular chocolate chip cookie can be a little spiffy too by adding dried cherries, lavender, and dark chocolate chunks.

Warning: If you bring these cookies to a gathering, make sure you let people know what they are or put a sign on them, especially if there are kids around. They look so much like regular chocolate chip cookies that the flavor can be very surprising if you were expecting it to be just that! I know from experience because I watched a child at a neighborhood gathering grab one from across the room. He split it in half, gave one half to his sister (who ate it gleefully mind you) while the brother took one bite and spit it out. I felt bad but also couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve been surprised by just a cherry chocolate chip cookie so I can’t imagine not knowing there was lavender in there as well. Not to say they are not delicious additions but perception and expectation do matter in situations like this!

I actually was worried the lavender wasn’t coming through enough when I first made the dough because I couldn’t really smell or taste it in the dough (yes I break my own cautionary tales), but after chilling in the fridge and subsequent baking the lavender was definitely not hiding anymore. What other ways have you used lavender? I tend to use it in cookies most but also made lemonade once and a lemon pie. But I digress, this week is supposed to be about stone fruit not lavender (maybe another time). Obviously I used dried cherries in these cookies but scroll down to see what everyone else made today. I’ll be back on Wednesday with one more stone fruit recipe this week.

Check out all the yummy recipes for Stone Fruit Week:

Cherry Lavender Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies from The Spiffy Cookie

Grilled Peaches with Blueberry Syrup from Blogghetti

Individual Plum Crisps from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Mango Pistachio Popsicles from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Peach, Bacon, and Brie Panini from Sweet Beginnings

Peach Blueberry Mini Trifles from Palatable Pastime

Peach Daiquiri from Our Good Life

Plum Picking + Plum-Rosemary Jam from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Vegan Peaches and Cream Layer Cake from The Baking Fairy

Three years ago: Blueberry-Lime Streusel Muffins

Four years ago: Chopped Village Salad

Five years ago: Fresh Peach Pie

Eight years ago: Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

CHERRY LAVENDER DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients:

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

1 Tbsp dried culinary lavender

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 egg + 1 yolk, room temperature

2 cups chopped dark chocolate

1 cup dried cherries

Directions:

1. Sift together the flour, lavender, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended (1-2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients in three batches until just blended. Fold in the chips and cherries by hand.
3. Rolls 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball that is slightly taller than wide and place on a plate or tray. Cover tightly and chill for at least 2 hours, but overnight for best results (I’ve refrigerated for up to a week).
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheets with silicone baking mats (or parchment paper); set aside.
5. Place cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
6. Bake for 8 minutes or until edges are barely golden (will look underbaked). Cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Source: Adapted slightly from My Favorite Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.