Christmas Cherry Chocolate Mini-Muffins

Submitted by TasteTester

"These are cute little bite-sized muffins. The kids (and adults) always gobble them up quickly."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Yields: 24 muffins
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• COOKIES

• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla

• CHERRY CHOCOLATE FILLING

• 2⁄3 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1⁄4 cup finely chopped maraschino cherry, well drained (red, green, or both colors)
• 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine, softened
• 1 egg

• CHERRY GLAZE

• 1⁄2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 -2 teaspoon maraschino juice (red or green)

directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, beat 1/4 cup butter and the cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa and the vanilla.
2. Place mini foil or paper baking cups, if desired, in each of 24 mini-muffin cups. (If not using baking cups, grease the muffin pan cups.) Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Press each piece in bottom and up side of muffin cup. In small bowl, mix all fill ingredients. Spoon about 2 teaspoons filling into each cup.
3. Bake 16-19 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when filling is touched lightly. Do not overcook! Cool 1 hour; loosen from cups with tip of knife. Remove from pan to wire rack.
4. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar and the cherry juice until smooth and spreadable. Drizzle glaze over cookies; sprinkle with a few additional chopped cherries.