Preparation:
In a large bowl, stir together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar on low speed until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture; beat until well blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; make a thumb print on each ball and place 1/2 a cherry in the center (reserve the cherry juice).
Make the frosting in a saucepan: Melt the chocolate pieces, 4 teaspoons of cherry juice and condensed milk. Keep mixture on low heat after blended. Add more cherry juice if mixture gets too thick. Spoon sauce over top of cherries and cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. If waiting to make rest of cookies, place batter in refrigerator (it is easier to make balls when dough is chilled). Makes 48 cookies. |