CHERRY CHEESE WINDMILLS

By stepjo7269

Taste of Home's Gifts from the Country Kitchen Cookbook p. 101.

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and chopped
• Directions
• ●In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla.
• ●Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• ●Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle.
• ●In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Fold in cherries.
• ●On a floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 10-in. square. With a sharp knife or pastry wheel, cut into 2-1/2-in. squares. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Make 1-in. cuts from each corner toward the center of the dough.
• ●Drop teaspoonfuls of filling in the center of each square; sprinkle with almonds.
• ●Fold alternating points to the center to form a windmill; moisten points with water and pinch gently at center to seal.
• ●Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool on wire racks.

Preparation

Step 1

Nutritional Analysis: 1 cookie equals 126 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 16 mg cholesterol, 73 mg sodium, 15 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein.