A Chocolate Cherry Covered Cookie counts 333 days until Christmas 2010 and 13 days until Superbowl XLIV

Christmas comes only once a year, but there are year round celebrations to bring out a cookie tray.  Take, for instance, Superbowl XLIV.

Superbowl parties bring out friends, fun and food.  A cookie tray full of "sweet" choices is perfect for your football party.  It is a small portable treat for your guest to enjoy.  A cookie tray doesn't have to be a painstakingly difficult process if you start now.  Pick a variety of cookies that freeze well and in two weeks you will be the talk of the celebration.

Chocolate Covered Cherry cookies are unique and a "Gourmet Gin" guarantee that there won't be one left when the final score is revealed.

Gourmet Gin's Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon  vanilla
1/4 t coffee extract
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
24 maraschino cherries
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 c sweetened condensed milk
 
Directions
(1) Preheat oven to 350 F  (2)  Mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder & salt together, set aside.  (3)  With a  mixer beat the butter until softened. Add the sugar to the butter & beat until light & fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, coffee extract and coconut oil.  (4) Add the flour mixture & beat until well mixed.  (5)  Roll the dough into 1-inch balls & place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  (6) Use your thumb to make an indentation in the center of each cookie.  Drain the cherries reserving the juice. Remove the stems & cut the cherries in half. Place 1/2 of a cherry into the indentation in each cookie.  (7)  Bake for 10 minutes & cool on a rack.  (8)  While cookies are baking put the chocolate chips & condensed milk in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the cherry juice.  Cool  (8)  Spoon 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of chocolate over the top of each cherry covering it completely. (9)  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  (10)  ENJOY!! 
 
The coffee extract and coconut oil complement the chocolate and cherry of these cookies.  You won't taste the flavors but what you will taste is a rich decadent chewy moist flavorful cookie (I think that about covers it!)
 
Your Superbowl party is a great excuse to try out some new cookie recipes.  Have a mix of simple to the exotic cookies.  This Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookie is addictive.  It is not too sweet, and with a chunk of cherry is sure to be a crowd pleaser. 
 
Ok!  Now on to the game.  Since my beloved Cincinnati Bengals are not heading to the Superbowl this year I am rooting for the New Orleans Saints.  I can't think of anything better for a city that has been plagued with the bad luck of Hurricane Katrina.  They deserve some HAPPINESS, and something tells me that their Saints winning Superbowl XLIV is just the ticket to some long overdue contentment.  GO SAINTS!!
 
Have a great week and enjoy a cookie on me : -)