Chocolate Topped Cherry Drops - Yummy Holiday Cookies

• Serves: Makes Approx 20 Cookies Realistically
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 90 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries (6 oz jar)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 teaspoons shortening

Instructions

Drain the cherries and chop them into small pieces. Set them aside. Do this first because once you're on a roll, you won't want to stop to do it then.

Preheat your oven to 350°.

Mix the sugar and softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy and even.

Add the vanilla and the egg again, beat well until even. Slowly add in the flour and baking powder mixing well as you go until all the ingredients (even the bits stuck to the sides) are mixed evenly.

Using your spatula, fold the cherry pieces into dough evenly.

If you choose (and I do suggest it) cover your cookie sheet with parchment paper, else-wise just leave your cookie sheet ungreased. Using a teaspoon, drop rounded portions onto the cookie sheet. Some (but not a lot) of spreading will occur, so place your cookies separated.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the edges of the cookie start to brown. Then, place them on a cooling rack to cool.

For the chocolate topping, melt in the microwave the chocolate chips and the shortening for 45 seconds or until melted. Stir the chocolate making sure it is smooth and even. Using a teaspoon, drop some chocolate in the center of the cookie. Shake the cookie back and forth a small amount (while keeping it level) so the chocolate spreads out a bit over the cookie.
Let stand until chocolate is set.