Macaroon Cookies

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 12 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 3/4 cups sweetened coconut flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until well blended; add egg yolk, orange juice and almond extract. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in 3 cups coconut. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour or until form enough to handle.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in remaining 3/4 cup coconut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; carefully remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

*+Chocolate-Drizzled Macaroon Cookies:+*
Prepare and cool cookies as directed. Place 4 bars (4 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate for baking in small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high (100%) 1 minute or until melted when stirred. Drizzle chocolate over cookies; let stand until chocolate becomes firm.