Chocolate Cookies with Moonshine Cherries

1 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2 . Stage

Combine flour and cocoa powder in a bowl. Drain cherries, reserving 4 teaspoons juice. Halve any large cherries.

3 . Stage

Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

4 . Stage

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press down in the center of each ball with your thumb and place a cherry or cherry half in the center of each cookie.

5 . Stage

Combine chocolate pieces and condensed milk for frosting in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; heat until chocolate melts. Stir in reserved cherry juice. Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cookie, spreading to cover the cherry.

6 . Stage

Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are firm, about 10 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheets for 1 minute before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.