Cream Cheese Dainties - A Serious Christmas Cookie

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Here's a serious Christmas cookie; it's white like snow, has a little red Christmas color in it, and it's full of fat, like Santa. How could you go wrong? It's also sweet with a crispy texture, and has a hint of almond flavor. This recipe comes from my grandma. She's been making these cookies at Christmas time for as long as I can remember Christmases. The funny thing is she brings these to Christmas every year but I refused to try them til about two years ago. I think I was afraid of the cherry piece in the middle. So I'm here to tell you don't be afraid, they're good, even if you don't like cherries. Be brave this year and try that Christmas cookie that looks weird and has too many nuts stuck to it, you just might like it.

Tip: to crush cereal use a food processor or place cereal in sealed bag and crush with a rolling pin. These cookies also freeze well.

1/2 cup butter
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups crushed cereal (Rice Krispies or Cornflakes work well)
maraschino cherries, stemmed and quartered

Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in sugar and almond extract until smooth. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour to butter and cream cheese mixture. Stir until just combined. Chill dough 1-2 hours until firm. Roll chilled dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll balls in crushed cereal. Slightly push cherry piece into middle of ball. Place balls on baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until slightly browned.

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Delicious Cookie Recipes - California Golf Ball And Angel Crisp Cookies

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Do the kids come home from school starving? Do you need something new for a lunchbox? Do you and your neighbors, family, and/or friends enjoying exchanging cookies and cookie recipes? Or maybe you enjoy gathering your children in the kitchen for a baking session on a rainy day. Then again, maybe you just have a cookie monster in your house who constantly empties your cookie jar. Here are a couple of recipes you need to try. The Golf Balls don't even need to bake; now how easy is that. The Angel Crisps are dipped in water and sugar before baking for a different effect.

CALIFORNIA GOLF BALL COOKIES

2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 cups crispy riced cereal
6-oz chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup soft butter
6-oz butterscotch chips

In a mixing bowl, mix together the peanut butter, cereal, powdered sugar, and soft butter. Shape mixture into balls. In a heavy saucepan, melt the paraffin, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips. Dip the balls into the warm paraffin sauce and place on a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper. Refrigerate to set.

ANGEL CRISP COOKIES

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup shortening
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
water for dipping
sugar for dipping

In a medium size mixing bowl, cream together the sugars, shortening, egg, and vanilla. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Form into walnut-sized balls. Dip top half of each ball into water then into sugar. Place on greased baking sheet and press down in the center with your finger. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned and crispy.

Enjoy!

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