Mexican Mocha Balls

These are a wonderful variation on the traditional holiday favorite -- Mexican Wedding Cakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1.75 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 Tbsp instant coffee
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• (1) 10 oz jar maraschino cherries, drained, blotted dry and chopped
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

Cream butter;, gradually add sugar and vanilla and beat thoroughly. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, coffee powder and salt; add to creamed mixture. Blend in nuts and cherries. Chill dough for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 20 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool. When cool, roll in powdered sugar.

Makes 6 dozen cookies