Sweetheart Cherry Almond Cookies

These cookies are just another rendition of my Mom's Cherry Almond cookie recipe. It is such a great recipe and it is fun to adjust them for each holiday.  Since Valentines Day is just around the corner, I have two different ways of making them.  I love the juice from the marachino cherries and I always hate to see it go to waste, so adding some to the dough gives the cookies just a little more cherry flavor.  Adding the cherry hearts in the center makes the first recipe so much fun.  The second recipe is fun to have your kids put their mark on them!  These are thumbprint cookies, where the heart is made with your finger prints.  These are just two more fun cookies to make for the holiday!

-Robin

VALENTINE CHERRY ALMOND COOKIES

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 Tbsp. marachino cherry juice

1/4 cup chopped marachino cherries

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tarter

1/4 cup sugar for rolling cookies

Cherry flavored candy

Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg, extracts and cherry juice and beat well.

Add the dry ingredients and mix well.

Add the chopped cherries.  Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Form small balls and roll in the sugar. 

Place on a cookie sheet.

Cook in preheated 375 degree oven for 8 minutes.

When cookies have cooled for a couple of minutes, place a cherry heart in the center.