BURIED CHERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Drain cherries, reserving juice. Halve any large cherries.
• In a medium mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer, on medium to high speed, for 30 seconds.
• Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl.
• Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.
• Beat in cocoa powder, and as much of the flour as you can with mixer.
• Stir in remaining flour using a wooden spoon.
• Shape dough into 1" balls.
• Place balls about 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Place a cherry in each center.
• For Frosting:.
• In a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk.
• Cook and stir, over low heat, until chocolate is melted.
• Stir in 4 teaspoons reserved cherry juice.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover (frosting may be thinned with additional cherry juice, if necessary).
• Bake for 10 minutes, or until edges are firm. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.
• Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.
• Note:
• For best results DO NOT substitute imitation chocolate pieces.