Recipe: Melting Moments and Date-Nut Cookies

Genie, I have the Melting Moments and Date-Nut recipes, but not the thumbprints. If you have the recipe for the Saucepan Fudgies, I would greatly appreciate getting that one as I have put mine through the washer and it did not fair very well, Thank you.

Melting Moments

Prep time: 20 Min. Baking time: 10 to 12 min.
Chilling time: 45 min to 1 hour
Oven temp: 350

For 2 dozen cookies you will need:
1 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup unsifted cornstarch (stir before measuring)
1/3 cup unsifted powdered sugar (stir before measuring)
1 cup all-purpose flour (stir before measuring)
Cream Cheese Icing (recipe follows)
Sliced almonds

Prep:
1. Beat butter at low speed until creamy. Slowly add cornstarch and powdered sugar. Turn speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy.

2. With wooden spoon, stir in the flour. Dough should be quite soft.

3. Cover and chill for 45 min. to 1 hour. Or, prepare the dough the night before, cover and refrigerate; remove from refrigerator 1 hr. before shaping.

4. Prepare Cream Cheese Icing.

5. Roll dough into 24 1-inch balls. Place 1-1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. With finger, press a slight indentation on the top of each cookie.

6. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 min. until cookies feel firm but are not browned.

7. Cool. Top each cookie with spoonful of icing. Garnish with sliced almonds.

Cream Cheese Icing: Blend 1 pkg.(3 oz.) soft cream cheese with 1 cup unsifted powdered sugar until creamy and smooth. Mixture will seem stiff, but will liquify as it is beaten. Mix in 1 tsp. vanilla or 1/4 tsp. of another extract such as almond or peppermint, and add a few drops of red or green food coloring. Mix well.


Date-Nut Cookies

Prep time: 25 min.
Baking time: 20 min. each sheet
Oven temp: 300 F

For 2-1/2 dozen cookies you will need:

1/2 cup butter or margarine
powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup finely snipped, pitted dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Cream butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and the vanilla until blended. With hands, work in flour, dates and nuts.

2. Shape into 1-inch balls. Arrange close together (cookies do not spread) on buttered baking sheets.

3.Bake at 300 F (above center of oven to avoid excessive browning on the bottom) for 20 min. or until golden brown.

4. Remove from sheets. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm. Cool on wire racks. Store airtight.

I hope you enjoy them.