Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies

It has been a busy couple of weeks! I have been baking up a storm, and running the roads, and then I was sick for a bit, but I am better now and am baking some more. I've mostly been doing a lot of the old recipes from last year, cherry bread, lemon bread, cherry winks, peanut butter balls, fudge. But now I am done everything but the banana breads (i am waiting on the bananas). Everything is bought and wrapped, and all i need to do is a bit of cleaning before Christmas. So this week is my free week to try new recipes! I have a new fudge recipe I am trying tomorrow, but this one is one I found on Meal Planning Magic a few weeks ago, it was part of her 12 weeks of Christmas cookies. I love cherries, and have oodles left over, so now is the time to make them!

Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies.


1 cup butter, softened.
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted.
1/8 tsp salt.
2 tsp cherry juice.
1/4 tsp almond extract.
2 + 1/4 cup flour.
1/2 to 3/4 cup crushed cherries.
1 cup sugar, for rolling.
Hershey kisses or hugs, 1 per cookie.

Cream together powdered sugar, butter and salt. Add cherry juice and almond extract. Stir to combine. Add flour, mixing well. Fold in cherries. Refrigerate dough 30 minutes (optional). Roll into balls, roll in sugar. Bake at 325 F for 14 minutes. As they come out of the oven, press a hug or a kiss in centre. Cool completely.

They are such a pretty cookie. And they taste great! I was really worried as I made the dough, as I have a tendency to write down recipes wrong. I kept second guessing myself. "What, no eggs?" run to the computer. Ok, no eggs. "Wait, no powder or soda?" run back to the computer. Ok, none of those either.

I ended up forgoing the quarter cup flour, as I had to add an extra teaspoon or two of cherry juice just to get the two cups in. I started taking cherries out of the jar to chop them finely, then I remembered I had a mini food processor under the counter that seldom gets used. I had those cherries chopped fine quicker than I could blink :-)

This is a very seasonal recipe, it is such a pretty colour. I think it would be great for a girl baby shower. After Christmas, that is my next baking adventure, I am going to be an Auntie again, and my little man K is going to be a big brother! He can't wait!  But for now, we are baking up to Christmas. I am having everyone here Christmas Day, for the first time ever. I've got lots of goodies for everyone!

Hope everyone is having a great last rush till Christmas; you should see me around a bit this week, I have one more new recipe and at least two that I made last week that I want to post!

Happy Monday, everyone!