Cherry, Almond and White Chocolate Cookies

Delicious combo of sweet (white chocolate), sour (dried cherries) and crunchy (toasted almonds). Super yummy. Note: this recipe makes a humungus amount of dough (it swamped my KitchenAide mixer), so it could easily be halved.

Source: Washington Post, Dec. 7, 2011. Recipe adapted from pastry chef Colleen O’Hanolan of the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville.

Ingredients

• 5 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine kosher salt
• 1 pound unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups skin-on (unsalted) almonds, lightly toasted, then coarsely chopped (see NOTE: may substitute nuts of your choice)
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried sour cherries, coarsely chopped

Instructions

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper.

Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer; beat on low speed, then medium-high speed until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape down the bowl as needed.

Reduce the speed to low; add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition, then add the vanilla extract. Stop to scrape down the bowl.

Gradually add the sifted flour mixture, beating on low speed to form a soft dough. Stir in the almonds, white chocolate chips and dried cherries until well incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.

Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.

Use a generous tablespoon to scoop the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them at least 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake two sheets at a time (upper and lower racks) for about 8 minutes, then rotate the sheets top to bottom and front to back. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes, until lightly browned on the bottom.

Let the cookies sit on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then use a wide spatula to transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing. Repeat to use all of the dough.

NOTE: Spread the almonds on a baking sheet. Toast in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and slightly darkened in color.

MAKE AHEAD: The dough needs to be refrigerated for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days. The cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 1 month.

Makes about 72 cookies