Cherry Garcia Cookies

[Guest guest]

I love The Grateful Dead and since I can't eat the Cherry Garcia ice cream my

friend emailed this recipe to me months ago.

They are delicious!

Donna

 

Cherry Garcia Cookies

 

1 cup dried sour cherries

1/3 cup cherry-flavored brandy (cherry juice works too)

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature (marg works too)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup good-quality white chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped (pecans and walnuts work too)

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or

use a silpat.

Plump the dried cherries by soaking them in boiling water to cover for a couple

of minutes. Drain well and toss with cherry brandy. Let the cherries sit in the

cherry brandy for a couple of hours or even overnight for the best flavor, then

drain before using. Cream the butter with both sugars, blend in the egg, vanilla

and almond extracts. Fold in the salt, baking soda, and flour. Fold in the

cherries, white and dark chocolate and macadamia nuts. Batter should be soft.

Drop in generous tablespoons onto the baking sheets, leaving space between

dollops of batter. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, 12 to 14

minutes. Cool on racks. Makes 30 cookies.