Recipe: Black-Eyed Susans (using a cookie press)

I'm wondering if you could substitute cream cheese for the sharp cheese?
Halyna

Black-Eyed Susans

1 lb sharp cheese, room temperature
1/2 lb margarine, room temperature
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or to taste
1 tsp salt
2 lb pitted dates
1 lb pecan halves
1/2 cup sugar

Cream grated cheese and margarine together well.

Add flour, pepper and salt. Mix well. This will make a very stiff dough.

Put in a cookie press. Using box plate, squeeze out in long strips. Cut 2-3 inches long.

Wrap around dates which have been stuffed with pecan half. Roll in the sugar and place on cookie sheets.

Bake at 300 degrees until lightly browned.

This is a Christmas must at this house. Very pretty and good.

Yield: 100 Pieces
Source: The Best of the Best of North Carolina Cookbook