PinterTest Kitchen: Chocolate Cherry Kisses

Well hello there and welcome!

I am excited.

Annoying, over-the-top excited.

So happy you're here.

 

I've known for quite some time which recipe I was going to feature first.

For a variety of reasons.

I have all the ingredients on hand.

I love chocolate cherry anything, especially shortbread.

Ever since I pinned them, I haven't stopped thinking about them.

Are you ready??

Let's get this party started!

 

These are the ingredients you'll need.

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

1 cup powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons maraschino cherry "juice"

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped

granulated sugar, for coating the cookies

36 Hershey's milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream butter in mixer w/ paddle attachment on medium setting for about 1 minute.

Now's the time to chop cherries as your mixer is hard at work.

I cut about 3/4 of the jar in 1/8's.

Reduce mixer to low and add powdered sugar and salt.

Next add cherry juice and almond extract.

With mixer still on low, add flour.

Increase mixer speed to medium and add cherries.

Be sure to scrape sides of bowl with your pink pig spatula.

What?  You don't have a pink pig spatula?

Well, I'm sad for you.

 

Shape dough into 1 in. balls and roll/coat in granulated sugar.

Set them about 2 in. apart on a baking sheet.

I swear by this baking sheet.

Well, that and my pink pig spatula.

Using your thumb, gently press the center of each cookie.

Bake for 14 minutes.

 

While cookies are baking, unwrap your kisses.

Once removed from the oven, press a chocolate kiss in the center of each one.

Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool completely.

Viola!

Aren't they cute?  And they taste delicious!

 

A few comments/thoughts:

Next batch I make, I'm going to fold in an additional 1/2 cup chopped cherries after mixing.

My mixer kind of battered the first 1/2 cup so I didn't get that chunky cherry look or taste.

Also, I may add a little more almond extract.

 

But they were really good!  And super easy.

 

So.  Now it's your turn!

What'd you make?

Grab a button and link up below!