Christmas Cookies - Part 1

 Christmas Cookies - Part 1

    I don't make a lot of desserts, however when Christmas comes around I have a tendancy to over do it a little bit.  This year I went light, only about 12 differnt cookies/ bars etc.  That doesn't include the almond biscotti or hazelnut fig biscotti I made.  Nor does it include the apple strudel in the freezer or the breads I make as well.

    This year I am starting off with my favorite, the Chocolate Cordial Cookie.  It is a rich chocolate cookie, topped with a cherry and then a quick fudge frosting that is baked onto the cookie.  Thats what my elf is doing in the picture above.  This year I didn't have any of the cheap bright red cherries that I usually use but I did have some good luxardo cherries in the fridge for old fashioneds.  I used though, those are the dark bits of goodness in the bowl next to Jonathan.  I will never go back, the only thing I didn't like about the cookies before was the plastic feel of the cherries.  These were way better.

Now, Get in the Kitchen and Cook Something!

Chocolate Cordial Cookie

½ c Butter

1 c Sugar

1 Egg

1 ½ t Vanilla

1 ½ c Flour

½ c Cocoa

1/4 t Salt

1/4 t Baking Powder

1/4 t Soda

Drained Maraschino Cherries

Frosting

1 c Chocolate Chips

½ c Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/4 t Salt

1 ½ t Cherry Juice

1. Cream together butter and sugar

2. Add egg, vanilla and cocoa, mix well

3. Stir in salt, flour, baking soda and baking powder, mix until combined

4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and press down with your thumb to make an indent, top with half of a cherry

5. Mix frosting ingredients and brush over cherry

6. Bake 12 minutes at 375º