Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

These delightful cookies have a maraschino cherry pressed into the center and are topped with chocolate.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
42 maraschino cherries, well-drained
1 (6-ounce) package semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
4 to 5 teaspoons maraschino cherry liquid

Cooking Directions:

1. Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Add combined dry ingredients; mix well.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Indent centers; fill each with one cherry.
3. Combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk in small saucepan; stir over low heat until smooth. Blend in enough cherry juice to make nice spreading consistency. Drop 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes or until set.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Recipe provided courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.