"Golden Nut" Filled Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups flour, sifted
- 1/2 tsp. salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3 oz. cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- grated rind of 1 orange
Sift together flour, salt and cinnamon-set aside. Cream butter and cream cheese together. Gradually add sugar and mix well. Beat in egg, vanilla, and orange rind, then slowly the flour mixture. Chill dough well-overnight or longer and chill scraps in the freezer before re-rolling. Press a ball of dough into the nut mold ( the point of a knife helps to start them out.) No drying is needed before baking. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F. Alternate flavors ~ almond, pecan, orange, etc.
Walnut Filling (or pecan, hazelnut)
11/2 C. ground walnuts
1 C. confectioners sugar
2 T. butter, softened
2 T. strong coffee
or Alternatively use the Peanut Butter Filling
1 1/2 C. peanut butter
3 T. light corn syrup
4 tsp. heavy cream
2 T. softened butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners sugar
Mix together well. Roll or scoop into a ball and squash between two baked nut cookie halves until it overflows pleasantly between them.