Coconut Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Description: Peeling silver foil from the chocolate kisses is like picking berries. One to keep, one to eat, one to keep,one to eat...

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherry, chopped
• 14 ounces flaked coconut (5 cups)
• 54 Hershey chocolate kisses (9 oz package unwrapped)

Steps:

1. To make dough-In large mixer bowl cream butter with the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Beat well.
3. Combine flour,baking powder and salt.NOTE-A touch of almond extract intensifies cherry flavor.
4. Gradually add to creamed mixture.
5. Stir in cherries and 3 cups coconut. Cover tightly and chill for 1 hour ,or until firm.
6. To bake-Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
7. Roll in coconut.
8. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
9. Bake 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
10. Remove from oven. Immediately press 1 kiss in center of each cookie.
11. Cool 1 minute.
12. Carefully remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire racks.