Cute little mini muffins with a pecan nut 'crust' and topped with a whole maraschino cherry.

Mini Holiday Muffins

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs, separated

1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

24 Maraschino cherries

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

Powdered sugar

1. Cream butter and sugar together. Mix in beaten egg yolks, cherry juice, flour and baking powder.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture.
3. Grease mini muffins tins and sprinkle bottom with chopped pecans. Place 1 teaspoon dough in each and place cherry on top. Add another teaspoon full of dough and sprinkle top with pecans.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from muffin tins and roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

Makes 24 servings.

Recipe provided courtesy of Iowa Egg Council.