Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Today's recipe is for the only cookies on the plate; they are pictured on the far left. The recipe for these cookies was a  reader contributed recipe to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine back in 1981, for which my husband will be forever grateful. The cookie base is a rich buttery dough to which a cherry is pressed into and then a candy-like frosting is added on top. These rich cookies are worthy of any special occasion. Blessings...

Recipe:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 egg
1-1/2 tsps. vanilla
48 undrained maraschino cherries (about 2 10-oz. jars)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6-oz pkg.)
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until well mixed. Add egg and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy.
3. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until completely combined. Dough will be stiff.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Press down center of each ball with thumb.
5. Drain maraschino cherries, reserving juice. Place one cherry in the center of each cookie.
6. For frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Heat and stir over medium heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and stir in about 4 teaspoons reserved cherry juice. You don't want the icing to be too thin and can add more juice if the icing gets too thick as it cools. Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry.
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Let cool on pans for about 2 minutes until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 48-52 cookies
Note: You will have 3/4 cup of the sweetened condensed milk remaining which is perfect for half of a recipe of the Peanut Squares Candy posted earlier. Also, I add any remaining frosting from the cookies to the chocolate mixture for the Peanut Squares, as well. It is all made of the same stuff and works great to have no little bits leftover.