MARASCHINO CHERRY HIDEAWAYS

2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening

3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
48 Maraschino cherries, well drained

Dipping Chocolate:

1 cup dark melting chocolate, cut into small pieces
2 tbsp butter-flavored shortening
finely chopped pecans
slivered white chocolate for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter flavored shortening, sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl with mixer on medium speed. Cream until well blended.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Beat into creamed mixture with mixer at low speed. Take a piece of dough and press into a thin layer around a maraschino cherry. Repeat with the remaining cherries. Place on an ungreased baking sheet about 2-inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for a minute then remove to wire racks to cool. Cool completely while preparing the dipping chocolate.

Dipping Chocolate: In a glass measuring cup melt the dark chocolate and shortening together in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and blended. Drop one cookie at a time into the chocolate mixture using a fork to turn and coat. Lift the cookie out of the chocolate with the fork and allow the excess chocolate to drain back into the measuring cup. Place on a waxed paper covered baking sheet or tray. Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans. Sprinkle with the white chocolate while still wet, if using. Chill in the refrigerator to set the chocolate.

Yield: 4 dozen

 File Photo