Vanilla Easter Nests
Why I Love This Recipe
Have the kids help shape and fill these fun cookies for Easter. Or fill with other goodies for different occasions, such as chocolate kisses for Valentine's Day.
Servings: 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients You'll Need
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup (2 sticks/8 oz/226gm) butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp. vanilla-sugar mixture* (see note below)
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
Small gourmet jelly beans
Directions
In mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, sugar and 1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla-sugar mixture until fluffy. Blend in flour and baking powder. Shape dough into 1" (2.5 cm) balls. Place on baking sheets. Using the handle of wooden spoon or thumb, make a deep indentation in center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 C) for 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned and firm to touch. Transfer cookies to cooling rack. Immediately sprinkle with remaining vanilla-sugar mixture and fill indentations with jelly beans, forming a nest. Cool.
