CHERRY BLOSSOMS CHOCOLATE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F.
• Place unsweetened chocolate in bowl. Microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, 1-1 1/2 minutes or until melted. Add butter; stir until butter is melted. Cool 10 minutes.
• Combine melted chocolate mixture, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup flour, eggs and baking powder in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add remaining 3/4 cup flour and dried cherries; beat at low speed just until well mixed.
• Place 1/3 cup sugar in another bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until top is cracked and set.
• Press 1 cherry chocolate candy piece immediately into each cookie. Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely or about 1 hour until chocolate is set. Store between sheets of waxed paper in container with tight-fitting lid up to 5 days.

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, cherry liquid, almond extract and food color; blend well.
• Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
• Add flour and salt; mix well.
• Stir in cherries.
• If dough is too dry, add a little more cherry liquid until dough holds together when shaped.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are just slightly brown.
• Immediately top each cookie with a chocolate candy, pressing down firmly.
• Remove from cookie sheets and cool.