Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Recipe courtesy of the National Cherry Growers.

Recipe Ingredients:

Chocolate Cookies:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 large egg
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled
1/3 cup buttermilk, milk or water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour*(see below)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 (16-ounce) jars maraschino cherries, stemless or halves

Chocolate Frosting:
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
3 tablespoons water
1 cup powdered sugar, plus more if needed

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. For Chocolate Cookies: Chop cherries, reserving 50 halves for garnish. Mix sugar, margarine, egg, chocolate, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and cherries.
3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful about 2 inches apart into ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched; cool. Frost with Chocolate Frosting or dust with powdered sugar. Garnish with cherry halves, if desired.
5. For Frosting: Heat chocolate and margarine/butter over low heat until melted; remove from heat. Stir in water and powdered sugar until smooth.

Makes 54 cookies.

*Note: If using self-rising flour, omit baking soda and salt.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the National Cherry Growers.