Chocolate Cherry Cups

Your guests will be impressed by these mini chocolate wafer crusts filled with sweet marscapone cheese, cherries and slivered almonds.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
• 5 tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 cup marscapone
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 1/2 cup cherry preserves
• 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped toasted slivered almonds

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix crumbs and butter until well combined. Press mixture in bottom and up sides of 24 mini muffin tins then freeze 20 minutes. Beat mascarpone, sugar and 2 tbsp cream in a small bowl until well mixed. Stir in preserves then spoon about 1 tbsp of mixture into each crust. Return to freezer for 3 hours. Combine 1/2 cup cream and chopped chocolate in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring until chocolate has melted, then cool. Spoon about 2 tsp of chocolate over each cup then sprinkle on nuts. Freeze to set chocolate.

Number of Servings: 24

Notes from the Cook: Can be prepared up to a week ahead and keep frozen