It's Chocolate Cherry Heaven

I know Valentine's Day was yesterday, but because we have a working household, we decided to delay "V" Day until we are both off. We will be celebrating tomorrow! So I had extra time to put together a most decadent little treat.

One of my favorite parts of a Box of Chocolates is the Chocolate Covered Cherry. I love when I bite into the hard candy shell and get all that cherry goodness leaking out. Then the fruity goodness of the cherry combined with the chocolate WOW!! It's absolutely Heaven. I wanted to get that sensation in a cookie and I think I have perfected it in this one. I give to you

Chocolate Cherry Heaven

Ingredients:

1 cup Butter (2 sticks, room temp)

2/3 cup Brown Sugar

3/4 cup White Sugar

2 Large Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

2/3 cup Cocoa Powder

2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1 medium jar Maraschino Cherries (drained and kept whole)

1 cup Chopped Walnuts *optional

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 350° f

Line Cookie Sheet with Parchment Paper

Combine Sugars and Butter.

Beat until smooth

Add Eggs, Beat until frothy.

Add Vanilla, Combine

Add Dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

Fold in Cherries, Chips and Nuts.

With a 2 oz Ice Cream Scoop, Scoop mounds of dough onto parchment.

May use tablespoon and form into balls.

Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes.

Cookies will be soft when removing from oven. Carefully move them to a cooling rack while still on parchment to avoid breakage. Allow to cool 15 minutes. Once cool, Cookies can be stored in covered container for 1 week.

Yields 3 doz cookies (depending on size)

ENJOY!!!