Cherry Mountain's are my husbands all time favorite childhood candy and they are nearly impossible to find anymore. Some people call them Cherry Mash.
CHERRY MOUNTAIN
These finished candies can sit at room temperature for over a week (if they last that long) but hubby LOVES them COLD out of the fridge. The peanuts provide that wonderful sweet-salty taste and the 2 little drops of almond extract give the cherry flavor just the right boost.
There are several steps to this recipe, but they are all very easy. I hope you try these treats.
12 ounces of chocolate Almond Bark
1/3 cup chopped up cocktail peanuts (warmed up a little)
2 Tbsp peanut butter (warmed up a little)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries**
2 DROPS of almond extract
24 mini muffin paper liners
Put 24 MINI cupcake papers in a mini muffin pan, then line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Set these 2 things aside.
The next “do ahead” is chopping the peanuts and then chopping the **maraschino cherries. You will want a total of 1/3 cup of each.
Chop the cherries in the food processor until very fine. Dump them out onto several layers of paper towels and press on them to extract any extra liquid (very important).
Beat 1/4 cup of room temperature butter with 1+3/4 cup powdered sugar and 2 drops of almond extract (beat until smooth). Add the chopped (and patted dry) maraschino cherries and mix well. Drop by heaping teaspoon measure onto waxed paper and set in freezer for about an hour.
After the cherry centers have been in the freezer for an hour, melt 12 ounces of chocolate almond bark in the microwave for about 75-90 seconds (depending on how powerful your microwave is). My microwave is a 900 Watts and it takes 90 seconds (don’t over heat the chocolate).
After the almond bark is melted, add 2 tablespoons of warm peanut butter and 1/3 cup of warm chopped peanuts. Mix well and put a small spoon of this mixture into the bottom of each paper liner (just enough to cover the bottom).
Place a frozen cherry center on the chocolate base (cut them in half if they seem to big), then top with more melted chocolate-peanut topping.
Let these cool completely, or speed set them in the fridge.
ENJOY !!!
