Almost Cherry Garcia Cookies

• Ready In: 29 mins
• Yields: 30 cookies

Ingredients

• 1  cup  dried sour cherries
• 1⁄3 cup cherry brandy
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1⁄2 cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1  large egg
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup  coarsely chopped white chocolate
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely chopped  semisweet chocolate
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely chopped  macadamia nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Plump the dried cherries by soaking them in boiling water to cover for a couple of minutes.
4. Drain well and toss with cherry brandy.
5. Let the cherries sit in the brandy for a couple of hours, or even overnight for the best flavor, then drain before using.
6. Cream the butter with both sugars.
7. Blend in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts.
8. Fold in the salt, baking soda and flour.
9. Fold in the cherries, white and dark chocolate and, if using, the macadamia nuts.
10. Batter should be soft.
11. Drop in generous tablespoons onto the baking sheets, leaving space between dollops of batter.
12. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, 12-14 minutes.
13. Cool on racks.