Cherry Filled Heart Cookies Recipe

Cherry Filled Heart Cookies 

Ingredients: 

* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 

* 1/2 cup shortening 

* 1 cup granulated sugar 

* 1 egg 

* 1/2 cup milk 

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

* 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

* 2 teaspoons baking powder 

* 1 teaspoon baking soda 

* 1/2 teaspoon salt 

Cherry Filling 

* 1/2 cup granulated sugar 

* 4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 

* 1/2 cup orange juice 

* 1/4 cup red maraschino cherry juice 

* 12 red maraschino cherries, chopped 

* 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 

* Additional sugar 

Directions: 

1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and shortening; gradually add sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla extract. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Meanwhile, make Cherry Filling. 

2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness; cut with a 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place half of the cookies on greased baking sheets; spoon 1/2 teaspoon filling in the center of each. Use a 1 1/2-inch heart-shaped cutter to cut small hearts out of the other half of the cookies. (Bake small heart cutouts separately.) Place the remaining hearts over filled cookies; press edges together gently.

3. Fill centers with additional filling if needed. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. 

Yields about 4 1/2 dozen filled cookies. 

Cherry Filling 

1.Combine sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. 

2. Add juices, cherries and butter. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 1 minutes. Chill. 

By Ryan 

Source: Taste of Home