Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

 

1½ cup flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
½ cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 ½ tsp vanilla
1 10 oz jar maraschino cherries
1 6 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup sweetened condensed milk

Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on low-speed until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until blended.

Gradually add in flour mixture until smooth.

Shape into 1 inch balls by rolling a small amount of dough between your palms. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Using your thumb, make an indentation in each ball. Drain cherries, reserving juice, and cut cherries in half. Place half of a cherry in the indentation of each cookie.

For frosting: In a small sauce pan combine chocolate chips and condensed milk. Heat over low heat until chocolate is melted. Add 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp of reserved cherry juice and stir. Spoon about 1 tsp frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover the cherry. If frosting gets too thick, add a little more juice. Note: Frost the cookies before baking.

Bake cookies at 350 for 10 – 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 48 cookies

Recipe Source: http://myhealthypassion.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/even-more-cookies/