These are one of my favorite Christmas cookies to make and eat (even though I’m not suppose to). They are chocolate, with a secret burst of cherry which adds as a refreshing pick me up. The frosting is a 3 ingredient wonder that reminds me of homemade truffles. These are the first Christmas cookies that I make every year and it officially kick off the cookie season. I’d suggest using maraschino cherries that are on the plump side instead of the cheap store brand ones. You will want all the cherry flavor you can get.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
Ingredients
- Cookie:
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 36 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
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together flour and cocoa, set aside.
- In a separate bowl mix butter and sugar until fluffy; add salt, baking powder and baking soda until well combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add in the flour/ cocoa mixture.
- Shape into 48 balls, about 1 in. round, and place on ungreased baking sheets. Put a thumbprint into each one.
- Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes.
- After cookies are cool, take a cherry and put it on the cookie. .
- While the cookies are still cooling and cherries are placed, make the 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 while the cookie is still warm. Cool on wire racks. Work quickly as frosting
