Meet the absolute show-stopper of cookie trays: Marry Me Cookies. These beauties bring together creamy white and semisweet chocolate chips, tart dried cranberries, crunchy nuts, and the kind of chewy, soft-baked centers that make you want to close your eyes and savor every bite. If you’re searching for that one unforgettable cookie recipe—the one with a swoon-worthy combination of flavors and a perfect texture—look no further. This is my go-to for holidays, bake sales, and anytime I want to impress (or win a few hearts along the way).
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Marry Me Cookies comes from a handful of classic ingredients, each selected to create big flavor, the right texture, and those irresistible bursts of color throughout each bite. Here are the essentials and why they matter:
- Unsalted Butter: Softened for the creamiest base and those classic cookie edges. Salted butter will overpower the other flavors here.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create those lightly crisp edges we all adore.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a rich, caramel note that takes these cookies to the next level.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and contribute to the cookies’ soft, tender center.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Rounds out all the flavors and gives that homemade warmth.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives the cookies structure—don’t skimp or your cookies may spread too much!
- Baking Soda: Helps them rise for a soft interior with lightly golden edges.
- Baking Powder: Teams up with baking soda to add just the right amount of lift.
- Salt: Sharpens and balances the sweetness perfectly.
- White Chocolate Chips: Bring creamy pockets of sweetness that melt beautifully throughout each cookie.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Offer a little depth and contrast so the cookies aren’t overly sweet.
- Chopped Pecans or Walnuts: Lend a hearty crunch—a must for texture lovers! (Try macadamia nuts for an even dreamier version.)
- Dried Cranberries: Pop of color and tartness to keep things interesting. Dried cherries work beautifully too.
How to Make Marry Me Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets and Preheat the Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two large baking sheets with parchment paper. This not only ensures your Marry Me Cookies bake evenly, but it also means zero sticking and a super easy clean-up. Having everything set up before you mix your dough saves you from scrambling later.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Use a handheld mixer or stand mixer to beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and almost creamy looking. This step is key for incorporating air, helping your cookies bake up tender rather than dense.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to fully incorporate before adding the next. Then pour in the pure vanilla extract. You’ll notice the mixture getting smoother and richer—this is your flavor foundation!
Step 4: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This little extra step ensures even distribution, so every Marry Me Cookie bakes with that perfect balance of rise, chew, and flavor.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixes
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or by hand. Stop as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour; overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies!
Step 6: Fold in the Good Stuff
Using a spatula, gently fold in the white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and dried cranberries. This is where the cookie magic happens—it should look delightfully chunky, with mix-ins in every scoop.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart (they’ll spread a little as they bake). Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges turn lightly golden but the centers still look a tad underbaked—that’s your ticket to soft, chewy Marry Me Cookies.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This brief resting period helps them finish setting up without drying out. Now is the moment to sample one warm from the oven—trust me, you’ll swoon.
How to Serve Marry Me Cookies
Garnishes
For an extra-special finish, sprinkle still-warm Marry Me Cookies with a little flaky sea salt to highlight the sweet-and-salty combo, or melt some extra white chocolate to drizzle in decorative stripes across the tops. A dusting of powdered sugar can make them look extra festive for the holidays too.
Side Dishes
Cookies and milk is an all-time classic, but don’t overlook serving Marry Me Cookies with fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you’re hosting a party, add a hot beverage bar with coffee, tea, or mulled cider to create the ultimate cozy vibe.
Creative Ways to Present
Layer these cookies in a rustic cookie jar or stack them high on a pretty platter for a dessert table showpiece. For gifting, tuck them into cellophane bags tied with ribbon, or assemble in a decorative tin lined with parchment for an extra dose of charm—everyone loves a homemade gift of Marry Me Cookies!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Marry Me Cookies irresistibly soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to 5 days (if they last that long!), and placing a slice of bread in the container with them helps retain their chewy texture.
Freezing
You can freeze Marry Me Cookies either before or after baking. For dough, scoop out individual portions onto a baking sheet, freeze solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Frozen dough balls can go straight from freezer to oven—just add an extra minute or two of bake time. Baked cookies also freeze well, tightly layered between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Reheating
To bring cookies back to that fresh-baked warmth, microwave one or two on a plate for 10–15 seconds, or pop a whole tray in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This revives their gooey centers and makes your kitchen smell amazing all over again!
FAQs
Can I use different dried fruit instead of cranberries?
Absolutely! Dried cherries add an extra punch of tart-sweet flavor, and even chopped dried apricots or golden raisins work well. Just keep the measurement the same for best texture in your Marry Me Cookies.
How do I know when the cookies are done?
The trick is to pull them out when the edges are golden but the centers still look a bit soft. They will firm up as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture Marry Me Cookies are known for.
Can I substitute the nuts or leave them out?
Totally! The nuts add crunch, but if you need to make these nut-free, simply omit them or swap in seeds like pumpkin or sunflower for a little texture. Or try macadamias for an extra decadent twist.
Do I need to chill the dough?
For this recipe, you can go straight from mixing to baking—no chilling required if you’re short on time! However, if you like thicker cookies, chilling the dough for 30–60 minutes before baking can help reduce spreading and concentrate the flavors.
Can I make these Marry Me Cookies gluten-free?
Yes, just use your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. The cookies should turn out beautifully; just be sure your mix-ins are gluten-free too.
Final Thoughts
There’s something undeniably special about sharing a plate of homemade Marry Me Cookies—whether you’re baking for a crowd or just treating yourself. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try soon and experience for yourself why everyone falls in love with that first chewy, gooey, flavor-packed bite. Happy baking!
Print
Marry Me Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Marry Me Cookies are the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy, with a delightful mix of white and semisweet chocolate chips, nuts, and dried cranberries. They are sure to win over anyone’s heart with their delicious flavors.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220 g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix-Ins:
- 1 cup (170 g) white chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 cup (150 g) dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Add mix-ins: Fold in the white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and dried cranberries.
- Bake: Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, slightly underbake them and let them finish setting on the baking sheet.
- You can substitute macadamia nuts for the pecans or walnuts for a richer flavor, or swap the cranberries for dried cherries.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
