Mocha Cherry Cookies

Flecked with cherries and glistening with sugar, these dainty cookies always go over big. They're rich and tender with a pleasant chocolate-coffee flavor.

• Ready In: 32 mins
• Yields: 36 cookies

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1  teaspoon hot water
• 1⁄4 cup  baking cocoa
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped maraschino cherry
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts
•  additional sugar
•  melted  semisweet chocolate (optional)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla. Dissolve coffee granules in water; add to creamed mixture with cocoa. Add flour and mix well. Stir in cherries and walnuts. Shape into 1 1/4 inch balls; roll in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
2. Bake at 325* for 20-22 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Drizzle with chocolate if desired.