Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened1 cup sugar1 large egg, room temperature1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup baking cocoa1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon baking soda48 maraschino cherries, blotted dryFROSTING:1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk1 to 3 teaspoons maraschino cherry juice
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350° In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes; beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture (batter will be very firm). Shape into forty-eight 1-in. balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Push 1 cherry halfway into each ball.
For frosting, melt chocolate chips in milk in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; add cherry juice and stir until smooth.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Spoon 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry while the cookie is still warm. Cool on wire racks.
