1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 10-ounce jars small maraschino cherries (about 48) or 24 large maraschino cherries, halved
1 6-ounce package (1 cup) semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, and salt; set aside.
In a large mixer bowl beat margarine or butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat on low speed of electric mixer till fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat well on medium speed. Gradually add flour mixture to beaten mixture, beating on low speed till well blended.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each ball with thumb.
Drain maraschino cherries, reserving the juice. Press a small cherry or large cherry half into the center of each ball of cookie dough.
For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan melt chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk over low heat, stirring often. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice. Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. If necessary, add additional cherry juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, to thin frosting.
Bake in a 350 oven about 10 minutes or till done. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
