Chocolate Covered Cherries

Total Time: 24 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 4 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 (8 ounce) jars maraschino cherries, with stems well drained
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons shortening

Recipe

• 1 in a mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, milk and extract; mix well.
• 2 knead into a large ball.
• 3 roll into 1-inch balls and flatten each into a 2-inch circle.
• 4 wrap around cherries and lightly roll in hands.
• 5 place with stems up on waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
• 6 cover loosely and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• 7 melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl.
• 8 holding on to stem, dip cherries into chocolate; set on waxed paper to harden.
• 9 store in a covered container.
• 10 refrigerate 1-2 weeks before serving.
• 11 yield: about 3 dozen.