3 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch
Dash salt
3/4 cup fresh or frozen pitted tart cherries (thawed), coarsely chopped
3/4 cup cherry juice blend
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 to 2 drops red food coloring, optional
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon cherry brandy
1 package (9 ounces) chocolate wafers
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add the cherries, juice blend and lemon juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; if desired, stir in food coloring. Cool to room temperature.
2. In a small bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, confectioners' sugar and brandy. Spread about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture onto each of 20 wafers; layer each with 2 teaspoons cherry mixture. Top with remaining wafers. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking pan.
3. Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chips; whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 hours before serving.
These rich chocolate wafers are the perfect complement to the creamy filling's sweet-tart tones. Chill for up to four hours; any longer and the wafers get too soft to pick up with your hands.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. + chilling Cook: 5 min. + cooling
YIELD: 20 cookies.
Nutrition Facts
1 sandwich cookie: 139 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.