Who doesn’t love cookies, especially basic chocolate chip? Sure we can fuss over the orthodox methods and recipes, but why bother! . Below are photos from a batch I made from a recipe earned in my days in the pastry kitchen of the now defunct Drake Hotel. Last weekend was filled by endless rain so I baked these, throwing in cherries leftover from a batch of granola I was also baking. Then I had cocoa nibs, always good and full of flavor and bite…. Hmmm, cocoa powder to make them a triple threat. Why not! Here you go.

Chocolate, cherry, walnut,(or pecan?) cocoa nib chip cookies.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Pre-heat oven 375 F

11/2 sticks of butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 whole egg

1 1/2 cups A.P. Flour

2 Tbsp. Cocoa

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 cups chocolate chips

1/4 cup cocoa nibs

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup walnuts (optional, I love nuts.)

Prepare two 12x 17 inch Sheet pans with parchment paper.

Sift dry ingredients in a bowl, set aside. Beat butter and sugar, vanilla. Mix until smooth. Add in egg and whip till fluffy. Add in dry ingredients, fold in with a mixer or by hand till just incorporated. Mix in cherries, cocoa nibs, chocolate chips and nuts. Once mixed, take tablespoon size balls and place divided on sheet pan about 3 inches apart as they will spread once baked. Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes, set on a cooling tray, wait for it…..if you can!