Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream the Butter and Sugars:
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
Add Wet Ingredients:
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Add Cherries and Chocolate Chips:
Gently fold in the chopped maraschino cherries and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
Shape the Dough:
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake the Cookies:
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked, but they’ll set as they cool.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.