Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 egg

• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup baking cocoa

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 48 maraschino cherries, blotted dry

• FROSTING:

• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

• 1 to 3 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice

  Directions

  1. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture (batter will be very firm). Shape into 48 balls, about 1 in. round, and place on ungreased baking sheets. Push one cherry halfway into each ball.
  2. For frosting, melt chocolate chips in milk in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; add cherry juice and stir until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon of frosting over each cherry (the frosting will spread over cookie during baking).
  3. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Yield: 4 dozen.