Smoked Cherry Bombs

• 1/2 cup cherry wood chips
• 12 dye-free maraschino cherries with stems (such as Tillen Farms)
• 2 ounces almond paste
• 5 teaspoons sugar, divided
• 2 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Dash of salt
• 4 (14 x 9 inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 375u0b0.
2. Pierce 10 holes on one side of the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch disposable aluminum foil pan. Place holes over element on cooktop; place wood chips over holes inside pan. Heat element under holes to medium-high; let burn 1 minute or until chips begin to smoke. Arrange cherries on opposite end of pan. Cover pan with foil. Reduce heat to low; smoke cherries 5 minutes. Remove from heat; uncover.
3. Combine almond paste and 1 tablespoon sugar; beat with a mixer at medium speed until mixture resembles damp sand. Add cream cheese, vanilla, and salt; beat until combined.
4. Place 1 phyllo sheet on a work surface (cover remaining dough to keep from drying); lightly brush with butter. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Repeat layers with remaining phyllo, butter (save a little butter for the outsides), and sugar. Cut 12 (3 1/2 x 3-inch) rectangles through phyllo layers using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Place 1 teaspoon almond mixture in the center of each phyllo stack; press 1 cherry, stem up, into almond mixture. Gather corners of phyllo, and press around stem to seal, forming a pouch. Gently brush pouch with remaining butter. Place pouches on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375u0b0 for 13 minutes or until crisp. Cool on pan on a wire rack.

cherry wood chips, maraschino cherries, almond paste, sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, salt, phyllo dough, butter

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/smoked-cherry-bombs (may not work)