Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Cookies:
1/2 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
48 maraschino cherries, blotted dry
Frosting:
1 cup (6 oz) 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 butter mixture (batter will be very firm.) Shape into 48 balls, about 1″ round; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Push one cherry 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 the cookie during baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.