CHERRY ALMOND DELIGHTS

Cherry Almond Delights image

A tender cream cheese dough filled with homemade almond paste and maraschino cherries makes an elegant cookie tart fit for a party.-Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 55m

Yield about 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
1 package (17-1/2 ounces) sugar cookie mix
FILLING:
1-1/2 cups slivered almonds
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
24 maraschino cherries, well-drained
Confectioners' sugar

Steps:

In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in egg. Add cookie mix; mix well (dough will be sticky). Shape dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to handle., Place almonds and sugar in a food processor; pulse until almonds are finely chopped. Add eggs; process until mixture forms a paste. Add butter and vanilla; process until blended., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-1/4-in. balls; press onto bottom and up the sides of greased mini muffin cups., Place 1 Tbsp. filling in each cup. Top each with a cherry. Bake 16-18 minutes or until edges are golden and filling is set. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 235 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 42mg cholesterol, Sodium 114mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (19g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.