Elegant Dipped Cherries

Another great idea from Taste of Home!

"Here's a sure way to impress holiday guests. These sweet maraschino cherries are wrapped in unsweetened chocolate, then dipped in melted vanilla chips. A chocolate drizzle dresses them up for serving on a festive plate of sweets. -Sedora Brown, Waynesboro, Virginia"

INGREDIENTS

1 jar (10 ounces) maraschino cherries with stems, well drained
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate
2 teaspoons half-and-half cream
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup vanilla or white chips
2-1/2 teaspoons shortening, divided
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

SERVINGS 18

PREP 75 min.
TOTAL 75 min.

DIRECTIONS

Pat cherries dry with paper towels and set aside. In a bowl, combine the butter, corn syrup, unsweetened chocolate and cream. Stir in the confectioners' sugar.

Knead until smooth. Roll into 18 balls; flatten each into a 2-in. circle. Wrap each circle around a cherry and lightly roll in hands. Place cherries, stem side up, in a shallow paper-lined container. Cover and freeze for at least 2 hours.

The day before serving, remove the cherries from freezer. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt vanilla chips and 1-1/2 teaspoons shortening; stir until smooth.

Holding onto the stem, dip each cherry into vanilla mixture; set on waxed paper to dry. Melt chocolate chips and remaining shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over the candies. Refrigerate until firm. Store candies in an airtight container. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

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