Preheat the oven to 190 C / Gas 5. Crush the corn flakes and put them in a small bowl.
Melt the butter and mix in the sugar. Add the beaten egg, baking powder, soda, salt, and vanilla. Add the flour and mix.
Drain 1 or 2 tablespoons of the syrup from the maraschino cherries and add to the mixture. Finally, add half of the crushed cornflakes to the mixture and mix well.
Form the dough into small balls and roll in the remainder of the crushed cornflakes. Flatten slightly, and press half a cherry into the top of the cookie.
Bake until nicely brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove from oven, and leave on tray for 2 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.