Recipe(tried): Chocolate Nutters (with cream cheese filling)

This is from Woman's Day Great Holiday Baking Special Edition, December 1987. Now a must make every Christmas.

CHOCOLATE NUTTERS

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar), divided use
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, divided use
1 3/4 cups flour
3 pkg. (3 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 egg separated
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
pecan halves or candied red and green cherry halves (for garnishing)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In large bowl cream butter and 1 cup sugar until smooth; set aside.

Sift flour and 1/4 cup cocoa powder together and add to creamed mixture; mix until smooth. Set aside.

For the filling, in medium sized bowl, beat softened cream cheese, remaining 1 cup sugar, remaining 2 tbsp. cocoa powder, egg yolk and vanilla, until smooth; set aside.

Beat egg white until foamy; set aside. Place chopped pecans in a shallow dish.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Dip in egg white, roll in chopped pecans. Place 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Gently make indentation in middle with finger or wooden spoon handle. Fill with about 1 tsp. of filling.

Bake about 12 minutes until filling looks set. Cool slightly on sheets.

Top with pecan or cherry halves. Remove to wire rack and cool completely. Store in refrigerator.

Makes about 3 dozen
Source: Woman's Day Great Holiday Baking Special Edition, December 1987