Buried Cherry Cookies

Making Christmas cookies is one of those great past times that quickly conjures memories of Christmases past.

For me, it's putting on "A Carpenter's Christmas" while baking.  It always reminds me of the times when my sister would come home from college for the holidays and made Christmas goodies.  It didn't even happen every year, but it is forever the memory that I have.

These Christmas cookies are from the cookbook we had growing up, and they are delish!  Like a chocolate covered cherry without the nasty cream filling!  And that is a win in my book!

Buried Cherry Cookies

Ingredients:

2 (10 oz) jars of maraschino cherries (about 50 cherries)
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. butter (softened)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda

"Frosting":
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
4 tsp cherry juice from the jar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth.  Combine the dry ingredients and mix in with the butter mixture until it forms a thick dough.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and make an indentation with your finger in the middle of each ball.  Place a maraschino cherry in each indentation.

In a small saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk and cherry juice over medium heat until thick and smooth.

Pour a small amount over each cookie, covering the cherry (do not douse over everything).  And yes, you put the "frosting" on before baking.

Bake for 10 minutes.  Allow to sit before eating.

Enjoy!