Nutty Pie-Crust Cookies

Total Time: Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling，Makes: about 3 dozen

I like Italian cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe. The splash of orange liqueur in the filling is my special touch. —Sonji McCarty-Onezine, Beaumont, Texas

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• FILLING:
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons orange liqueur, optional
• 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat butter, flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt until crumbly. Beat in cream. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll.
2. Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 1-1/2-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
3. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
4. For filling, place pecans and coconut in a small bowl; toss to combine. Reserve 1/2 cup coconut mixture. In another bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, salt and, if desired, liqueur until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Fold in remaining coconut mixture. Spread over bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Place reserved coconut mixture in a shallow bowl. Roll sides of cookies in the mixture.

NutritionFacts

1 sandwich cookie: 120 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 79mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.