Red 'n' Whites

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried cherries, finely chopped
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter, cold
• 12 ounces chocolate baking squares, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 drops red food coloring (optional)
• 2 teaspoons shortening
• nonpareils (optional)
• red edible glitter (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325 degrees f.
• 2 in a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. stir in chopped cherries and 2/3 cup of the chopped chocolate. stir in vanilla and, if desired, food coloring. knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.
• 3 shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.
• 4 bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
• 5 in a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces chocolate and shortening. cook and stir over low heat until melted.
• 6 dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. if desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set.