Chocolate Cherry Delight Cookies

 Chocolate Cherry Delight Cookies – 48 cookies

 

 Makes 48 Cookies

Ingredients

·        1 cup butter, softened

·        1½ cups sugar

·        ⅓ cup maraschino cherry juice

·        1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·        3 cups all purpose flour

·        ½ cup baking cocoa

·        1 cup flaked coconut

·        ¾ cup maraschino cherries, chopped

·        ½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Topping:

·        ¾ cup vanilla frosting (use my own recipe)

·        48 maraschino cherries with stems, drained and patted dry

·        1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

·        1 tsp shortening

Instructions

1.      Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Gradually beat in cherry juice and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and cocoa. Slowly beat into the creamed mixture. Stir in coconut, cherries and chocolate chips.

2.      Shape the dough into 48 balls, about 1¼ inch. Place 2 inches apart and press a deep indentation with the end of a wooden handle. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until set and the bottoms are lightly browned. Cool completely.

Fill each cookie with ¾ teaspoon vanilla frosting. Top with the cherries. To make the chocolate drizzle, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Melt 30 seconds at a time and stir until smooth. Drizzle over the cookies.