Cherry-Filled Valentine Heart Cookies

Got a cherry lover on your hands? This is a delicious recipe for cherry filled cookies that will put a huge smile on any cookie lovers face. These are amazing warm and even super tasty and chewy cold and go perfect with a nice glass of milk or a flute full of champagne. A really nice and simple homemade gifts which is a sweet treat that will surely leave a great impression on the recipient.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup 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

FILLING:
1/2 cup 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

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening while gradually adding the sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla to the mixture. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients and then gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile, for filling, combine sugar and cornstarch in small saucepan. Add juices, cherries and butter. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 1 minute. Cover and refrigerate.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-in. thickness; cut with a 2-1/2-in. 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-in. heart-shaped cutter to cut small hearts out of the other half of the cookies. Place the remaining hearts over filled cookies; press edges together gently. Fill centers with additional filling if needed.

Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Yield: about 4-1/2 dozen filled cookies.