COOKIES & TREATS/ CHERRY WHISKEY BALLS

               BY JOAN RICKETTS LOCKE

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers

1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tbsp. finely ground pecans

1/2 cup finely chopped candied cherries

1/4 cup whiskey

2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 tbsp. corn syrup

1/3 cup granulated sugar

Use the food processor to crush vanilla wafers,

pecans and cherries, separately.

In a large bowl, combine wafer crumbs,

confectioners' sugar and nuts, cherries,

whiskey, cocoa and corn syrup.  With a 

wooden spoon, mix together well, and press

all ingredients in bowl together to form one

large ball.

Shape mixture into balls, using about 1 tbsp.

for each ball and place on waxed paper.

Place granulated sugar in small shallow dish.

(you can use colored sugar for a festive look)

Roll balls in sugar to coat.  Place in tightly covered

container at least 24 hours for the flavors to develop.

If you try one now, don't judge the whiskey taste, you

won't taste the whiskey as much now as you will in 

24 hours!  They keep for months in the frig!

Buddy, Wayne and Billy love these and 

"don't like to share."    I originally made them

for Daddy.  He calls them, "tasty little jewels."

I make two batches, one for everyone else and

a batch without nuts for Andrew.  The batch for 

Daddy is not rolled in the granulated sugar, as he 

is a diabetic, they are already sweet enough.

Put in a festive container.  They make great Christmas Gifts!

For the whiskey...I use Wayne's Makers Mark, or an Irish Whiskey!
 

Photo:  Daddy, Joanie, Buddy, Rosie

Terry, Billy and Momma

at home in Forestville, Maryland