Chocolate Cherry Tea Cookies Food

CHERRY TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter, cherry liquid, almond extract and food color with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. On low speed, beat in flour and salt. Stir in cherries.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool 20 to 30 minutes.
• In 1-quart resealable freezer plastic bag, place baking chips; seal bag. Microwave on High 35 to 50 seconds, squeezing chips in bag every 15 seconds, until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip from bottom corner of bag; drizzle melted chips over cookies.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour and cocoa; set aside.
• Beat butter in a med bowl on med speed until softened.
• Add sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Beat until well mixed.
• Beat in egg and vanilla, scraping the side of the bowl.
• Gradually beat in flour mixture.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2-inches apart on an ungreased cooking sheet.
• Press down the centers with your thumb.
• Drain cherries, reserving juice.
• Place a cherry in the center of each cookie in the depression you made with your thumb.
• Combine chocolate pieces and condensed milk in a small saucepan.
• Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted.
• Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate and milk mixture over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry.
• If the frosting is too thick, thin with additional cherry juice.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until edges of cookie is firm.
• Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.
• Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.