CREAM CHEESE CHERRY COOKIES

Cream cheese makes these cherry cookies chewy and tender. Roll them in whatever color sugar you’d like for a cute treat to fit any occasion!

You could get creative and colorful with what colored sugar you used.  Use pretty colors for a birthday theme, red and blue for a patriotic party, or even green sugar for Christmas.  Wouldn’t they look so cute rolled in green sugar with the red cherry in the middle?  Just like a little wreath.

The white chocolate drizzled on top is optional.  Personally, I think that white chocolate drizzle makes everything better!

If you have cherry lovers in your house, you’ll want to surprise them with these cute little cookies this Valentine’s Day.

Ingredients

• zzzz1/2 cup butter softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup colored sugar
• 30 red maraschino cherries drained and dried
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips optional, for drizzlez

Instructions

1. Using a stand mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar together in a large bowl. Beat in almond extract. 
2. In a separate small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4. Shape the dough into 30, 1-in. balls, then roll in colored sugar. 
5. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 12-13 minutes. Do not overbake. Remove from the oven and immediately press a cherry into the center of each cookie. Move the cookies to wire racks to cool.
6. In a microwave-safe bowl, slowly melt the white chocolate chips in 10-15 second increments, stirring between each melting time. Use a spoon or fork to drizzle the chocolate overtop the cookies. 
7. Allow the chocolate to set completely before storing the cookies in an airtight container.

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