chocolate covered cherries

This is another traditional candy that have made over the years.  Some years we have soaked the cherries in rum and some years we  have not and both are good.  This year the two places that I shopped for groceries only had jars of cherries without stems.  I think the stemmed ones are nice on the goodie tray.  The stems sticking out from the candy allow them to be differentiated from the other chocolate candies.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

10 oz jar maraschino cherries with stems

2 Tbsp rum

Soak cherries in rum for 2 hours, drain well on paper towels.

Fondant

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk (eagle brand)

2 tsp light corn syrup

2 1/4-2 ½ cups powdered sugar

chocolate coating or dipping chocolate

Combine eagle brand milk and corn syrup, blend well.  Gradually add powdered sugar until a stiff smooth dough is formed, kneading in last of powdered sugar if necessary.  Wrap small amounts of fondant around cherries.  Refrigerate 20 minutes or until fondant is firm. Dip in melted chocolate.  When dry dip again.  This year since I did not have stems showing I drizzled the finished candies with a little white bark coating.