Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. 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 tsp. maraschino cherry juice
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture (batter will be very firm). Shape into 48 balls, about 1 in. round; place on ungreased baking sheets. Push one cherry halfway into each ball. For frosting, melt chocolate chips in condensed milk in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add enough cherry juice to achieve a spreading consistency; stir until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon of frosting over each cherry (the frosting will spread over cookie during baking).
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.Remove to wire racks to cool.
Yield: 4 dozen
