Recipe(tried): Chocolate Covered Surprise Cookies and Chocolate Cherry Surprises

These I found on the inside of a Land O'Lakes butter package. They are the best chocolate cookies I have ever made or tasted! Not a big cookie, maybe a bite or two, but they pack a great taste. I made them for my co-workers once, and the boss, who doesn't usually eat what we bring in, was convinced by one of his associates to try them. You can guess what happened. Yup, he came back for more, more, more! Finally, he asked for the recipe for his wife. I should have held out for a raise!

CHOCOLATE COVERED SURPRISE COOKIES
Adapted from source: Land O'Lakes
Makes about 42 cookies

FOR THE COOKIES:
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup Land O'Lakes butter, softened*
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained, reserve juice, halved
FOR THE FROSTING:
1 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Add all remaining cookie ingredients except cherries. Reduce speed to low; beat until well mixed.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press cherry half into center of each cookie, making sure cherry halves are dry.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool completely.

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING:
Meanwhile, combine all frosting ingredients in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and frosting is smooth (4 to 5 minutes).

Frost each cooled cookie with about 1/2 teaspoon frosting. Make sure cherry is COVERED.

*Substitute LAND O LAKES Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY SURPRISES
Source: ConAgra Foods
Makes about 2 dozen

Sweet and tender cookies with milk chocolate and maraschino cherry centers. These are a variation of the original Chocolate Covered Surprise Cookies. The same method used to form this variation could be used with the Chocolate cookie dough for double the chocolate taste!

2/3 cup Blue Bonnet Margarine, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
25 maraschino cherries, patted dry
1 cup milk chocolate chips, plus 25 more, divided use

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add flour, cherry juice, and vanilla; mix well. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Stuff each cherry with 1 of the chocolate morsels; wrap in 1 tablespoon of dough, completely covering cherry with dough. Roll each into ball. Place, 2-inches apart, on ungreased baking sheet. Reserve remaining chocolate morsels for later use.

Bake 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet to wire rack; cool 30 minutes.

Melt remaining 1 cup chocolate chips in top of double boiler over low heat. (Or, place in small microwavable bowl; microwave on HIGH 45 seconds.Stir until chocolate is completely melted.)

Dip tops of cookies into melted chocolate. Return to wire rack; let stand until chocolate is set, about 1 hour.

Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature.