Holiday Hideaways

People eagerly anticipate these tasty cookies as part of our "season's eatings" each year. The surprise cherry center surrounded by a fluffy cookie makes this treat especially fun. With the chocolate coating, they're almost like candy—and always the first to go!

Holiday Hideaways

Average Rating: 4.833333

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling
YIELD: about 4-1/2 dozen.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 jars (10 ounces each) maraschino cherries, well drained
  • 10 ounces white candy coating, divided
  • 4 tablespoons butter-flavored shortening, divided
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped
  • Finely chopped pecans

Instructions

  • 1. In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
  • 2. Form 2 teaspoons of dough into a ball. Flatten ball with a glass coated with cooking spray. Place a cherry in the center; roll dough around cherry. Repeat with remaining dough and cherries. Place balls 2-in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  • 3. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set and the edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
  • 4. Grate 2 oz. white candy coating; set aside. In a microwave, melt remaining white coating with 2 tablespoons shortening; stir until smooth. Melt dark coating with remaining shortening in a microwave; stir until smooth.
  • 5. Dip half the cookies into white coating; allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Sprinkle with pecans. Dip the remaining cookies in dark coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Sprinkle with grated white coating. Let stand until set. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

2 each: 227 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.