Cherrychocolateblossoms Recipes

CHERRY-CHOCOLATE BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, cherry liquid, almond extract and food color; blend well.
• Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
• Add flour and salt; mix well.
• Stir in cherries.
• If dough is too dry, add a little more cherry liquid until dough holds together when shaped.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are just slightly brown.
• Immediately top each cookie with a chocolate candy, pressing down firmly.
• Remove from cookie sheets and cool.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Place unsweetened chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Add butter; stir until butter is melted. Cool 10 minutes.
• Combine melted chocolate mixture, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 3/4 cups of flour, eggs and baking powder in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add remaining 3/4 cup of flour and dried cherries. Continue beating just until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate until firm. [1 hour].
• Heat oven to 300. Place 1/3 cup of sugar in small bowl. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until top is cracked and set.
• Immediately press 1 cherry chocolate kiss into each cookie. Remove to cool racks. Cool completely or until chocolate is set. [about 1 hour]. Store between sheets of waxed paper in container with tight-fitting lid for up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BOMBE

Steps:

• Line a 1 1/2 quart glass or stainless bowl with plastic wrap, leaving enough excess hanging over the edge, and stick it in the freezer.
• In a medium pot, combine the cherries, 1 cup of sugar, lemon juice, kirsch, and 3/4 cup of water. Simmer over medium-high heat until the juice from the cherries is released and the fruit is soft, about 20 minutes. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry and add it to the cherry mixture. Simmer, stirring, for another 2 minutes to thicken. Remove the cherry sauce from the heat, you should have about 4 cups. Put the cherry sauce in the freezer or in an ice bath to chill until cold.
• Using a wire whisk, beat 2 cups of the heavy cream, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, and vanilla together until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into half of the cherry mixture (2 cups) to make a light mousse - don't overdo it, it's ok if there are streaks of cream in the filling. Gently fold in the pistachios. Take the plastic-lined bowl out of the freezer and spoon the cherry mousse into it, filling it all the way to the top, and spreading evenly around the rim. Freeze again for at least 8 hours, so the mousse sets up firm.
• Heat the remaining 1 cup of cream and the chocolate in a pot over medium-low flame. Stir to melt the chocolate completely and smooth it out into the cream. Cool until warm to the touch, the chocolate should still be pourable.
• Take the bowl of cherry mousse out of the freezer and invert it, bottom-side up, on a wire rack set over a sheet pan. Carefully peel off the plastic and pour the chocolate ganache over the bombe to cover it completely, allowing the excess to drip down into the sheet pan. Stick the chocolate cherry bombe back in the freezer to chill. Using a couple of flat spatulas, carefully remove the bombe from the rack and put in on a chilled platter. Cut into wedges; serve with the reserved cherry sauce.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY BOMBS

Steps:

• 1. Add boiling water to gelatin mix in a medium bowl; stir for 2 min. or until completely dissolved.
• 2. Microwave evaporated milk and chocolate in microwaveable bowl on high for 2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each minute. Add to gelatin; whisk until blended.
• 3. Pour into 14 (3 oz.} paper cups sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 15 min.
• 4. Top with cherries, pressing in slightly to stick. Refrigerate 20 min. or until firm. Unmold to serve.
• Variation: Substitute mini-muffin pan or ice cube tray for paper cups.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY KISS COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk flour and salt together in a small bowl.
• Combine shortening, powdered sugar, cherry juice, red food coloring, and cherry flavoring in a large bowl. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in maraschino cherries.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; arrange 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately top each cookie with a chocolate kiss, pressing firmly. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

CHOCOLATE BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the butter and cocoa until smooth. Beat in the sugar, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually blend into the chocolate mixture to form a dough. Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the confectioners' sugar. Place cookies 3 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops of the cookies have cracked. remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

CHERRY BLOSSOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Sugar Cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, egg, and brandy and continue beating until well combined. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use a 2 5/8-inch square cutter to cut out squares. Reroll scraps once (you should have about 16 cookies). Transfer to prepared sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Bake until set and golden around edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.
• Royal Icing: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Reduce speed to low and add confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, increasing speed to medium-high between each addition, until mixture has consistency of shampoo. Add lemon juice. Tint with pink food color until desired shade is reached. Transfer mixture to a shallow bowl. If not using immediately, icing can be stored at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, up to 2 days, or in refrigerator, well wrapped in plastic, up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Working with one cookie at a time, dip cookie top-side down in icing to completely coat surface, allowing excess glaze to drip back into bowl. Invert cookie and clean edges with your finger, if desired. Transfer to a wire rack or baking sheet and let stand at room temperature until completely dry, at least 12 hours and up to overnight. Reserve remaining icing for decorations, at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, or in refrigerator, well wrapped in plastic. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Stir additional confectioners' sugar into icing until it has consistency of toothpaste. Divide mixture into 3 portions and tint with pink food color until 3 desired shades are reached. Transfer each color to a piping bag fitted with a small plain round or star tip (such as Ateco #2, #3, or #13).
• Place luster dust in a small bowl. Stir in vodka, a little at a time, until mixture has consistency of thick watercolor paint. Using a small food-safe paintbrush, paint a tree branch design on surface of each cookie. Using the 3 shades of pink icing, pipe small blossoms on branches. Let stand at room temperature until completely dry, about 4 hours. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

CHERRY KISS COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners' sugar and salt until blended. Beat in cherry juice, extract and, if desired, food coloring. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in cherries., Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. , Bake 8-10 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into center of each cookie (cookie will crack around edges). Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.