Christmas Cherry Balls

Ingredients:

• Cherry Ball Base:
• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup finely crushed vanilla wafer crumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries (well-drained & dried)
• 3 tbsp maraschino cherry juice
• 1 tsp almond extract
• Pink gel food coloring (optional)
• White Drip Coating:
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips or melting wafers
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• Cherry Sugar Topping:
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries (very well dried)

Decoration:

• Whole maraschino cherries
• Mini striped straws or decorative sticks

Instructions:

1. Mix granulated sugar with finely chopped cherries and spread out to dry for 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. In a bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar, wafer crumbs, chopped cherries, cherry juice, and almond extract. Add more powdered sugar if too soft. Tint pink if desired.
3. Roll into golf-ball-sized balls and place on a parchment-lined tray. Freeze for 20–25 minutes.
4. Melt white chocolate and vegetable oil in 20–30 second microwave intervals until smooth.
5. Dip the top of each chilled cherry ball into the melted white chocolate and sprinkle with the cherry sugar.
6. Top each ball with a whole maraschino cherry and insert a mini striped straw.
7. Let set for 20–30 minutes at room temp or 10–15 minutes in the fridge.