Chocolate & Cherry Stripes

Very showy cookies will be a welcome addition to your holiday cookie trays. Kids love to help pat this cookie dough into the pan. From Land O Lakes.

• Ready In: 1 hr 8 mins
• Yields: 7 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1  egg
• 2  tablespoons milk
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted,cooled
• 1⁄2 cup maraschino cherry, well-drained,chopped
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped pistachio nuts or 1⁄3 cup pecans

Directions

1. Combine sugar and butter in large mixer bowl.
2. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy.
3. Add egg, milk and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed.
4. Reduce speed to low and add flour and baking powder.
5. Mix well.
6. Divide dough in half.
7. Knead melted chocolate into one half.
8. Knead cherries and nuts into remaining half.
9. Line 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with plastic food wrap, extending wrap over ends.
10. Divide each dough in half.
11. Evenly press half of chocolate dough into pan.
12. Evenly press half of cherry dough on top of chocolate.
13. Repeat layers of chocolate and cherry doughs.
14. Use plastic wrap to remove from pan; wrap dough.
15. Refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight).
16. Heat oven to 375° F.
17. Cut into 1/4-inch slices; cut each slice into thirds (cut across the short way).
18. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
19. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.