Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies Food

CHERRY CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix butter, sugar and almond extract throughly using an electric mixer. Gradually blend in flour and corn starch. Add cherries and chocolate.
• Form into 1"-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Pour sugar on a small plate; dip bottom of drinking glass in sugar and gently press down on each cookie to flatten.
• Bake in a preheated 300 oven for 20-30 minutes, or until bottoms begin to brown.
• Cool 5 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Drizzle by placing 2-ounces chocolate and shortening in a small resealable plastic freezer bag. Microwave on HIGH for about 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted. Snip off the corner and drizzle over cookies.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Finely chop 6 ounces baking chocolate and set aside.
• Combine flour, cold butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and cocoa powder in a large bowl; beat until mixture resembles small crumbs. Stir in chopped chocolate, maraschino cherries, and almond extract until well combined.
• Pour 2 tablespoons sugar into a shallow bowl. Form cookie dough into 1-inch balls and roll in the sugar until coated. Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet. Use the bottom of a cup to flatten cookies to 1 1/2-inch rounds.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to waxed paper; let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
• Heat remaining chocolate in a small pot, stirring occasionally, until melted. Add 1 tablespoon butter and milk; stir until mixture is melted and runs off a spoon with ease. Add another tablespoon of butter and milk if needed.
• Dip each cookie at least halfway into the melted chocolate mixture. Lay the dipped cookies back on the waxed paper. Let cool and harden for several hours.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; stir in cherries and extract. Spread 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture on bottoms of each of half of the wafers; cover with remaining wafers. Refrigerate 1 hour or until filling is firm., Dip sandwiches in candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; top with sprinkles or colored sugar. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

WHITE-CHOCOLATE CHERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well.
• In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. Stir in almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.
• Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
• In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 60.
• To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.