Cherry Chocolate Cookies

Description

• Makes about 2½ dozen cookies and about ½ cup glaze.

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup butter or margarine, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup Hershey's cocoa
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 18 maraschino cherries, well-drained and halved

Chocolate glaze

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ cup Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy.
3. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture (dough will be stiff).
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
5. Place about 1-inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Press cherry half into center of each ball.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until almost set.
8. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
9. Cool completely.
10. Prepare chocolate glaze.
11. Frost each cookie, leaving top of cherry showing.

Pecan chocolate cookies

1. Prepare cookies as directed omitting cherries.
2. Bake and glaze as directed.
3. Top each cookie with pecan half.

Chocolate glaze

1. Combine sugar and water in small saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove from heat; immediately add Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips, stirring until melted.
4. Cool until glaze is of spreading consistency.