From the book, "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder" by Joanne Fluke. (Author's note about this recipe: "A plate of these should be in every psychiatrist's office - - two Chocolate-Covered Cherry Delights will lift anyone out of a depression)
48 cookies
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup cocoa powder
3 cups flour (not sifted)
2 (10 ounce) jars maraschino cherries
2 cups chocolate chips (6 oz package)
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees, rack in middle position.
Melt butter and mix in sugar.
Let mixture cool.
Add eggs, mix thoroughly.
Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, vanilla and cocoa, stiring after each addition.
Add flour and mix well. (Dough will be stiff and a bit crumbly).
Drain cherries, remove stems, reserve juice.
Pat dough into walnut-sized balls.
Place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
Press down in center with thumb to make a deep indentation.
Place one cherry in each indentation.
In a saucepan, over simmering water (double boiler), combine the chocolate chips and condensed milk.
Heat on low until the chips are melted.
Add approximately 1/8 cup of reserved cherry juice and stir to a thick sauce.
If sauce is too thick, carefully add a little more juice. Test with a teaspoon. If it doesn't glob off, it is too thick.
Spoon the sauce over the center of each cookie, just enough to cover each cherry. Make sure it doesn't drip down the sides.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Let cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.
remove to rack to finish cooling.
