Wild Cherry Kiss Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! We have a lovely meal and movie planned for the evening. Ron and I have been making grilled steak (even in the snow) with a delicious onion and blue cheese sauce for the past few Valentine's Day dinners, and Ron requested triple chocolate cheesecake for dessert.... we may have to detox for the next week! I know some people think Valentine's Day is cheesy, but I love it. I think we should show each other how much we love each other everyday, but I don't think it hurts to have an extra special day too.

I found these cookies on Pam's blog For the Love of Cooking. I thought they were so cute and perfect for a work treat today. I decided to make them a little more wild with the stripped candy kiss. These cookies are so yummy, and super easy. I added an egg to the original recipe because my dough came out a bit dry and I was looking for a soft cookie. A great treat for the day of L-O-V-E!
Ingredients
1 cup of softened unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
1 tbsp maraschino cherry juice
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 drops of red food dye (optional)
1 egg
2 1/4 cups of flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup of maraschino cherries, chopped up
White sugar, to roll the cookies in
36 chocolate kisses


Instructions

Beat the butter with a mixer until creamy and smooth. Add the sugar, maraschino cherry juice, vanilla extract, egg, and red food dye (if using); beat with a mixer until smooth. Mix the flour and salt together then pour in batches into the dough. Mix with the beater, making sure to wipe the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the cherries and mix well with spoon. Place the dough into the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat mat.
Roll the cookie dough into small balls then drop into a bowl of sugar; roll to coat evenly. Place the balls on the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart; press your thumb down in the center of the cookie gently. Repeat.

Place into the oven and bake for 13-14 minutes. Remove them from the oven and immediately place a kiss in the center of each cookie. Let them set up on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool.

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