Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Karen From Colorado's Note:

A hidden cherry under the chocolate makes a sweet surprise when you bite into these wonderful chocolate cookies.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 48 cookies

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup butter or ½ cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 48 undrained maraschino cherries (reserve 4 tsp cherry juice)
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate piece
• ½ cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

1. Combine flour and cocoa; set aside.
2. Beat butter in a med bowl on med speed until softened.
3. Add sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4. Beat until well mixed.
5. Beat in egg and vanilla, scraping the side of the bowl.
6. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
7. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
8. Place 2-inches apart on an ungreased cooking sheet.
9. Press down the centers with your thumb.
10. Drain cherries, reserving juice.
11. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie in the depression you made with your thumb.
12. Combine chocolate pieces and condensed milk in a small saucepan.
13. Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted.
14. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
15. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate and milk mixture over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry.
16. If the frosting is too thick, thin with additional cherry juice.
17. Bake in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until edges of cookie is firm.
18. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.
19. Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Reviews

[Luby Luby Luby]

A very close family friend shared this recipe with me a few years ago. I include these in my gift boxes of "goodies" that I give at Christmas. They are a delicious, soft and fudgy cookie with a delightful cherry inside. If you are a cherry fan I think you will be pleased with this one.

[PSU Lioness]

This is my absolute favorite cookie! I found the recipe on BHG.com and I make batches and batches every year to give out as Christmas gifts because they are so good! I follow the recipe exactly and I've never had a problem with them. They remind me of the Snack Wells Devil's Food cookies with a cherry in the middle. Thanks so much for posting!

[Chef #1481826]

Fabulous Recipe! I had lost it from a cookie exchange years ago and was sooo happy to have found it again. These cookies get RAVE reviews from all my family and friends. The cookies are moist and delicious and hold together very well. The icing covers the cherries perfectly. Maybe let the icing cool a bit before covering the cherries. These are by far my most requested recipe this year! Thanks!