Reply #45: these are unusual and deeeeelicious

[Kali]

the recipe calls for red and green candied cherries, but the green ones are especially disgusting, although they look nice on a platter
I just use red maraschino halves.

here is a half recipe version I found on line so I don't have to type it all out, the only dif I see is they actually call for marichinos and say to press them in after baking - I don't do that I just press them in to the dough and bake.

oh yeah my version calls for a cup of butter (2 sticks) and a 6 oz pkg of cream cheese, but it only comes in 8 oz so I just use it all - they come out fine - I usually double my recipe so you can quadruple this just fine




30 Servings
Prep: 20 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min.


Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup crushed crisp rice cereal
15 red and/or green maraschino cherries, halved and patted dry

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar. Beat in almond extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in crushed cereal. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a cherry half into the center of each cookie. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.