Fudge Nutters

Source: Mimi's Cyber-Kitchen

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, divided
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs separated
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
54 pecan halves, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large mixer bowl, cream butter or margarine. Add 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, flour and 1 egg yolk. Mix at medium speed until well blended. In small bowl, combine 1 cup confectioners' sugar and cream cheese. Add remaining egg yolk, 2 tablespoons cocoa and vanilla and mix until smooth. In a pie plate beat egg whites until foamy. Roll dough into 54 balls; dip each in egg white then roll in chopped pecans. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a well in each cookie; add a teaspoon filling. Place a pecan half on top of filling. Bake 12 minutes. Cool 3 minutes; then remove to wire racks to cool. Store in airtight containers in refrigerator.

Makes 54 cookies.