1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
24-26 maraschino cherries with stems
Additional powdered sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup shortening
In small mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Pat cherries dry with paper towel. Dust hands with powdered sugar. Wrap each cherry with about scant tablespoon of peanut butter mixture. Shape into a ball. (refrigerate peanut butter mixture as necessary to keep easy to handle) Cover and refrigerate peanut cherry balls for at least 1 hour.In microwave melt chocolate chips and shortening and stir until smooth. Dip cherry balls in chocolate and place on waxed paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until set.