I think these would make great Valentine cookies because of their colors!! I thought about just mixing chocolate chips in the dough to make a more even flow of chocolate throughout the cookie, but the kisses just look sooooo cute on them. Tattoo man and teen #2 both LOVE maraschino cherries so I made these special for them. If I let them they would eat a whole jar in one sitting.
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 c. confectioners' sugar
2 tsp. maraschino cherry juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract
A few drops of red food coloring (I actually didn't use any, I like the color they were naturally)
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. maraschino cherries, well drained and chopped
48 milk chocolate Hershey kisses, unwrapped
Combine the first 5 ingredients; blend well. Stir in flour and salt; add cherries and mix well. Form dough into 1" balls (you can refrigerate the dough if it seems to sticky to roll) and place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake @ 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from oven and immediately top each cookie with a Hershey kiss, pressing lightly. Remove from cookie sheets to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 4 dozen.
