Kissmass Almond Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. (8 ounces) Hershey Kisses (milk chocolate)
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup shortening
• ½ cup light brown sugar - packed
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 1 tsp. Almond extract
• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• ½ tsp. Salt
• ½ cup maraschino cherries - chopped
• 1 egg white
• 1 TBS. Water
• 2 cups finely chopped almonds

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Grease cookie sheet.
• Beat butter, shortening, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large bowl until fluffy.
• Add egg and almond extract and beat until blended.
• Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, beating until well blended.
• Mix in cherries.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
• Combine egg white and water; beat with fork until foamy.
• Roll balls in egg white, then in almonds.
• Place on prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and immediately place chocolate piece on top of each cookie, pressing down gently so that cookie cracks around the edge.
• Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
• Allow cookies to cool until chocolate piece is set, about 3 hours. .

Variations:

• You can use the Hershey kisses with almonds or the new Milk chocolate and mint kisses as well.
• If you'd prefer to roll the cookie in another type nut, such as walnuts, that's fine. Experiment and Have Fun!