Chocolate-Cherry Sandwich Cookies

Name: Chocolate-Cherry Sandwich Cookies
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 3-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar; 1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, drained; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; 1 package (12 ounces) vanilla wafers; 18 ounces milk chocolate candy coating, melted; Red nonpareils or red colored sugar

I make these often at Christmastime, but they're great for summer parties, too. Chilling the cookies before you dip them in chocolate is important because it firms up the filling. —Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland

Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, drained
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 package (12 ounces) vanilla wafers
18 ounces milk chocolate candy coating, melted
Red nonpareils or red colored sugar

Directions

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; stir in cherries and extract. Spread 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture on bottoms of half of the wafers; cover with remaining wafers. Refrigerate 1 hour or until filling is firm.
Dip sandwiches in candy coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; sprinkle with nonpareils. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Originally published as Chocolate Cream Cheese Cherry Dippers in Cookies & Candies 2014 Bookazine