Cream Cheese Meltaways With Lemon Glaze Food

LEMON CREAM CHEESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium, beat together the butter and half the cream cheese until combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in the granulated sugar and 4 teaspoons lemon zest until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes more. Beat in the egg until combined. Add flour mixture and beat until combined.
• Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Portion the dough into 2-tablespoon scoops and arrange them on the sheets at least 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Bake, rotating halfway through baking, until the cookies are puffed and set and just beginning to turn golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks until cookies are completely cooled.
• Meanwhile, prepare the optional glaze: Whisk together the remaining cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar, milk and 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice until smooth. Add additional lemon juice or milk until mixture forms the proper consistency for a glaze. Drizzle over cooled cookies. Let cookies stand at room temperature until the glaze has set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the freezer for a month.

CREAM CHEESE MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix all ingredients at room temperature to make a stiff dough. Roll into ball form, pressuring down to flatten with bottom of a glass. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.
• 2. Note: You may add any extract to change flavor. Pecans, raisins or chocolate chips can also be added. Makes approximately 3 dozen.

CREAM CHEESE MELTAWAYS WITH LEMON GLAZE (FROM COOKING LIGHT)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• 2. To prepare cookies, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
• 3. Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, butter, cheese, and vanilla in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes). Add flour mixture; stir until just combined (dough will be dry and crumbly). Shape dough into 36 (1 inch) balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on pans on wire racks. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
• 4. To prepare glaze combine 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar and lemon juice, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Dip tops of cookies in glaze; place on wire racks. Let cookies stand for 30 minutes or until glze is set.