Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a delicious cookie guaranteed to delight your sweetie. The recipe comes from one of my favorite TV Network stars, Paula Deen.
yield: 4 1/2 dozen preheat oven to 350 Ingredients: 8 oz semisweet chocolate 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cup sugar 4 large eggs 1/2 tsp vanilla 3/4 tsp almond extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 1 cup dried cherries, chopped 1 cup slivered almonds

Line baking sheets with Silpat or parchment paper. In a medium bowl, combine chocolate and butter. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until melted and smooth. Let cool slightly.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract at medium speed until fluffy. Slowly beat in chocolate mixture until combined. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips, cherries and almonds.

Drop cookies 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let cook 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

February 2010