Cream Cheese Hazelnut Gems

By southerngrace

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely chopped hazelnuts
• pomegranate jelly

Preparation

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon zest until well blended. Mix in powdered sugar, then flour to make a stiff dough. Refrigerate dough. Shape chilled dough into 30 small balls. Beat egg white until foamy. Dip balls in egg white, then roll in nuts. Place balls on lightly greased baking sheets. Press an indentation into the center of each ball; fill with a little pomegranate jelly. Bake 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until cookies begin to brown on the bottom. Let cool.