CHOCOLATE CHERRY BLOSSOMS COOKIES 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:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and salt until blended. Beat in cherry juice, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in cherries., Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. , Bake 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into center of each cookie (cookie will crack around edges). Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.