Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 42 maraschino cherries, drained (reserve 5 teaspoons juice)
• 1 (6oz.) package semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla.
3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and stir until well blended. Add to sugar mixture and mix well.
4. Shape dough into 1'' balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Indent centers and fill each with 1 cherry; set aside.
5. Combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Blend in enough cherry juice to reach spreading consistency. Drop 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. Bake for 12 minutes or until set.