Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well reserving 2 Tablespoons of cherry liquid for later.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender (or 2 forks), cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. You could also use a food processor here or use your Kitchen Aid Mixer. Stir in drained and chopped cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped white chocolate. Stir in the 2 Tablespoons reserved cherry liquid, almond extract, and food coloring. Mixture will be very dry and look like crumbs. Don’t worry. That’s normal. Using your hands, knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.

3. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. The cookies do not spread much so make sure your balls are well formed. Having slightly damp hands helps here. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Do not overbake! Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

5. In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. You could also do this in the microwave, melting in 30 second intervals stirring in between. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in sprinkles and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 48 cookies.

I loved the cherry/almond/white chocolate flavor.So delicious. And it reminded me of my Grandma Mary Kay’s pie with similar flavors!! Even Kevin who is extremely skeptical of maraschino cherries was a big fan. He was worried about eating them quickly because I liked them so much myself!

So he took it upon himself to eat 3 cookies in a row immediately after dinner. It was like a cookie eating hat trick. I know. You’re surprised I knew hat trick, right? Lol. Let’s just say I had one shining night of intramural floor hockey in college and a certain professor taught me.

Anyways. These cookies are awesome. My suggestion would be to use a food processor if possible. Either that or be more patient with your manual pastry blending. I got really bored. Thus my cookies turned out a little lumpy and a lot feo. A little white chocolate can only had so much laziness.

Kevin wasn’t lazy tonight! We FINALLY got out some Christmas lights. Kevin bought these for me the first year we were dating (awwwwwwwwwwwa). They’re supposed to be pink, but they DEFINITELY LOOK PURPLE. Which is unfortunate because I despise purple only second in my hate list after blue. But it’s the thought that counts so I really actually love them. Did you hear that, Kenneth Cole?

Today’s workout: 1 hour Group Power class + 4.17 miles easy (watched Jeopardy! and part of a Christmas movie). It was like my best day ever, we made it to a class AND I got to watch Jeopardy!

Last Week’s Cookie Friday: Chubby Hubby Truffles

Sweet dreams!