Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies

Several weeks ago I invented a new recipe: Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies. I can't take full credit for inventing the recipe per-se, rather I simply reconstructed an old recipe for Polka Dot Cookies (PDC) my mom and I make at Christmas. As far as I know, she and I may be the only people that like the PDC's, but nevertheless, we keep making them (and eating them). The PDC recipe calls for red and green maraschino cherries, walnuts and chocolate chips -- pretty fancy. However, with cherry season in full swing I decided to give the PDC recipe a classy little makeover. 

It all started by soaking some beautiful bing cherries in Amaretto <<Drool >>.  The end result was fab! I added chocolate chips to the last dozen for some variety. These tasty cookies have a cake or biscuit texture, they are not overly sweet. I recommend them to anyone looking to make good use of summer sweet cherries!

Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies

Ingredients:
1 C. Margarine
1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Brown Sugar
2 Eggs slightly beaten
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 C. Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
2 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 C. Milk
1 C. Bing Cherries, halved
1/3 C. Amaretto

Combine cherries and amaretto in bowl, soak overnight. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. Mix liquids, except milk, in large bowl. Add dry ingredients to liquids alternating with addition of the milk.

Drain cherries of excess liquid. Fold into cookie dough.

Drop big teaspoons of batter onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

ENJOY!

Brownie Cookies - For Health Reasons...

"Health Food" - the definition can vary depending on the person, latest diet trend or current level of stress.

In this case, I must share with you that my sister is getting married in one month. If that weren't enough to boost a girls' stress level, she has also volunteered to watch my dog Abby for the weekend while my husband and I are away. She's a saint.  Needless to say, her stress level is CODE RED: Needs Chocolate!!! 

This TastyHealthy Brownie Cookie Recipe I stumbled upon at Lifes Ambrosia will be the perfect "Thank you for watching my crazy dog - please try to relax" gesture.They certainly look like ooey gooey tasty delights and the health factor will be determined by the mental relief felt by those who taste them!

Makes 20-30 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 package fudge brownie mix
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 stick butter, melted, cooled
• 2-3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 cup dark chocolate chunks (or Semi-Sweet...or Milk Chocolate...)

Instruction:

• Whisk together flour, brownie mix and brown sugar.
• Using a heavy spoon, stir in eggs one at a time. Followed by butter and 2 tablespoons water. If the batter appears like there is too much flour add 1 more tablespoon of water. Batter will be very thick.
• Fold in chocolate chunks

THICK batter....look at that spoon!

• Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a cookie sheet or use parchment if you have it handy.
• Drop heaping tablespoons of dough on the cookie sheet, you want pretty thick cookies here to get the brownie feel, about 3 inches apart. Press down slightly. Don’t flatten completely.



Tasty little mounds - ready for baking

• Bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven, allow to cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet.



Fresh out of the oven...mmmm...they smell good!



Let cool completely before dressing them up! I LOVE this baking twine.

Enjoy!