Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies

Mmm... alliteration is almost as tasty as chocolates and cherries!

I got this recipe from AllRecipes.com (submitted by Barbara Hart) while looking for Christmas recipes. This is one of nine recipes that I made this year (my new kitchen made me a little over-zealous).

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 10-oz jar maraschino cherries
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

DIRECTIONS

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa, 1/4 tsp salt, baking powder, and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Drain cherries, reserving 1 1/2 tsp of the juice. Pat cherries dry. Shape 1 Tbsp of dough around each cherry. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. (Word of Advice: these cookies don't reshape as they cook. When done, they will look exactly as they do now so shape them as you want to).

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on wire racks.

Frosting: In a saucepan, heat chocolate chips and milk until chips are melted (I used a water bath, to be on the safe side); stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in reserved cherry juice and remaining 1/4 tsp salt. Frost cookies.

These cookies are so yummy! The cherry in the center is a perfect mix with the sweet chocolate. Anyone who loves those cherry chocolates will love this cookie. I've never made a frosting with just chocolate and sweetened condensed milk but it is delicious and easy.