Cherry-Chocolate Blossoms

A beautiful little cookie for cookie trays and holidays. Very simple to make yet very elegant.

• Ready In: 42 mins
• Serves: 48
• Yields: 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 1  cup powdered sugar
• 1  cup butter or 1  cup margarine, softened
• 2  teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  almond extract
• 3 -4  drops  red food coloring
• 2 1⁄4-2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3-1⁄2 cup maraschino cherry, drained, chopped
• 48  milk chocolate, candy drops or 48  chocolate stars or 48  Hershey chocolate kisses

Directions

1. In large bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, cherry liquid, almond extract and food color; blend well.
2. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
3. Add flour and salt; mix well.
4. Stir in cherries.
5. If dough is too dry, add a little more cherry liquid until dough holds together when shaped.
6. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
7. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are just slightly brown.
9. Immediately top each cookie with a chocolate candy, pressing down firmly.
10. Remove from cookie sheets and cool.