It's Time For Making Cookies!

I made a batch of cookies this week but today had to find time to make more.  I made Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies, one of my family's favorites so I'll share the recipe here if you would like to give them a try.
Very easy, pretty and delicious!  First picture is the raw dough with cherries waiting for the frosting on top before baking.  Second picture, they are cooling and almost ready to eat!  But have to save some for Seamans Family Christmas on Sunday!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 C. Butter
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
48 maraschino cherries (1 jar drained, save juice)

Frosting
6 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk, approx. 1/2 small can
5 tsp. cherry juice

Directions:

Stir together flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla to butter/sugar mixture and beat well.
Gradually add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture and beat until well blended.

Shape dough into 1" balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Push down center of each ball with thumb.
Drain cherries, reserve juice.
Place one cherry in center of each cookie indention.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F

For frosting, put chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan.  Heat until chocolate melts.  Stir in 4 or 5 teaspoons of cherry juice.  Mix with spoon.

Spoon 1 tsp. of frosting over each cherry.  Spred to cover cherry.
Bake 10 mins and do not overbake.

Remove to wire rack and cool.
These cookies freeze nicely.

Makes 2 dozen

Happy Holidays Everyone!