Christmas Jewel Cookies

By mitzzy

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 3- ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed
• Red and green candied cherries (can cut cherries in half)

Preparation

Step 1

Cream together butter or margarine, cream cheese, and almond extract until light.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into butter mixture just until combined.
Chill 1 or 2 hours.
Shape into small balls; roll in cereal and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Top with a cherry, lightly pressed into the dough.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes
until bottom of cookies are golden brown. Cool on wire racks.
Makes 4 dozen. The recipe can be easily doubled.