Cherry-chocolate Blossoms

Total Time: 42 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 2 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 -4 drops red food coloring
• 2 1/4-2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3-1/2 cup maraschino cherry, drained, chopped
• 48 milk chocolate, candy drops or 48 chocolate stars or 48 hershey chocolate kisses

Recipe

• 1 in large bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, cherry liquid, almond extract and food color; blend well.
• 2 lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
• 3 add flour and salt; mix well.
• 4 stir in cherries.
• 5 if dough is too dry, add a little more cherry liquid until dough holds together when shaped.
• 6 shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• 7 place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• 8 bake at 350 degrees f for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are just slightly brown.
• 9 immediately top each cookie with a chocolate candy, pressing down firmly.
• 10 remove from cookie sheets and cool.