Hoilday Treasures

I can't believe that I just found this recipe!! They are so tasty and simple to make! They taste almost like candy! This recipe was hiding in one of my cookbooks for the last eight and a half years. I wonder what other yummy recipes are hiding away! (I only used the chocolate and pecans because I didn't have white chocolate and I don't like it as well. I also used Almond Bark for the candy coating and it worked well.)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening

1 egg

1 Tblsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 jars (10 oz. each) maraschino cherries, well drained

Coating:

10 oz. white candy coating, divided

4 Tblsp butter-flavored shortening, divided

8 oz. dark chocolate candy coating (I used almond bark)

Finely chopped pecans

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and shortening. Add the egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Form 2 teaspoonfuls of dough into a ball. Flatten ball and 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. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. or until set and the edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 min. before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Grate 2 oz. white candy coating; set aside. Melt remaining white chocolate with 2 Tblsp. shortening; melt dark coating with remaining shortening. Dip half the cookies into white coating; lace on waxed paper. Sprinkle with pecans. Dip the remaining cookies in dark coating; place on waxed paper. Sprinkle with grated white coating. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Yield: about 4 1/2 dozen.