Cherry Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

The cherry tree myth is the most well-known and longest enduring legend about George Washington . In the original story, when Washington was six years old he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree. When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him. Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie…I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and rejoiced that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.

Cherry Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

 Cooks's  Notes: I can not tell a lie. These cookies were delicious and easy to make. Even  Washington would have enjoyed a plate of these cookies speckled with cherry bits and chocolate chunks. 
Recipes makes 18 cookies and was adapted from Food Network December 2017

Ingredients: 

• 1-3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 stick of butter, room temperature
• 1 cup of sugar, divided 
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup cherry jam or preserves
• 5 drops food coloring, red
• 1/2 tsp. each vanilla and almond extract
• 1-4 oz.  semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate bar, chopped
•  1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

Directions:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Beat butter, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar on medium high until light and fluffy. Add in egg, jam, food coloring and extracts.  Mix well.
• Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture. 
• Fold in chocolate and cherries.
• Chill dough in freezer about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad. Lay a long sheet of wax paper on counter. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on wax paper.  
• In two different small bowls add 1/2 cup confectioners sugar in one and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in the other. Roll dough balls in granulated sugar first, then confectioners sugar. Shake off any excess. Place on baking sheet two inches apart.  

• Bake 12 minutes. Cool on a metal rack. Use sifter to redust each cookie with confectioners sugar while warm. 
  

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