Chocolate Covered Cherry Coconut Blossoms

I have recently discovered that when a person is tired (and by tired, I mean literally EXHAUSTED), every emotion is heightened by infinity.

Anger turns into rage.

Annoyance turns into hatred.

Frustration turns into drop kicking life on it’s face.

Sadness turns into desperate sorrow.

The only emotion that ISN’T heightened by exhaustion is joy.  Joy is diminished, because that is how Exhaustion Math works.  It’s one of those weird exception rule things like you used to learn in Algebra or whatever.

Anyways.  I find myself wondering lately, what did I used to do with all of my sleep?  EIGHT HOURS???  REALLY?

I certainly was a smug and well rested little thing, wasn’t I?

Since I am nursing, there isn’t a lot my husband can do in the middle of the night, so I get up with the baby and tell him to get a good night’s sleep…Jon David needs at least ONE parent who is semi coherent, right?

The only BAD thing about this plan is when my husband starts yawning at like 8 in the evening.

AFTER a full night’s sleep the night before.

I get super duper offended, like he just insulted me or something.

Is he really yawning?  SERIOUSLY??

HOW. DARE. HE.

OMG — SORRY EIGHT HOURS ISN’T ENOUGH MR YAWNYPANTS!!!!!  WE ARE DIVORCING!!!!!!!!

Then I remember the Exhaustion Math thing, and realize that I am being unreasonable.

(But between you and me, I still think he should learn to better suppress his yawns, just out of respect or whatever)

Anyways — cookies.

I am a huge fan of Hershey Kiss blossom cookies.  You get cookies, you get candy. The way I see it, we all win.

However — why do Hershey Kisses get all the fun?  There are tons of yummy chocolate candies out there that fit nicely in the center of a cookie, right?

Since I am a huge fan of those cheap boxes of chocolate covered cherries (I keep a box in the fridge starting in Octoberish), I decided to make chocolate/coconut cookies with a chocolate covered cherry center.  The cookie base is rich and chewy and the cherry candy in the middle gives them an unexpected twist.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Coconut Blossoms

INGREDIENTS

• 2 sticks salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 3 dozen chocolate covered cherries with cream center
• powdered sugar for dusting

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy and smooth.  With the mixer on medium low, add corn syrup, egg and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.  Slowly add to the butter mixture and mix on low speed.  Add coconut and continue mixing until combined.  Cover and chill dough for about an hour.

2.  Preheat oven to 350.

3.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart, and bake for 7 minutes. After removing baking sheets from oven, top with a chocolate covered cherry, gently pressing into the center of the cookie.

4.  Remove cookies to wire rack to finish cooling.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy!!

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