Apricot Cream Cheese Drops

Source: Complete Recipes

Serves: 18 Cookies

1/2 c Butter Flavor Crisco
1 pk Cream Cheese, ( 3 oz )softened
1 tb Milk
1/4 c Brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c Apricot preserves
1 1/4 c All-purpose flour
1 1/2 ts Baking Powder
1 1/2 ts Cinnamon
1/4 ts Salt
1/2 c Pecans, coarsely chopped OR Flake Coconut

FROSTING
1 c Confectioners Sugar
1/4 c Apricot Preserves
1 tb Butter Flavor Crisco
Finely Chopped Pecans OR Flake Coconut ( optional )

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes Bake Time: 14 Minutes

Heat oven to 350. Grease baking sheet with Butter Flavor Crisco. Set aside.

Cream 1/2 cup Butter Flavor Crisco, cream cheese and milk in
medium bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.
Beat in brown sugar. Beat in 1/2 cup preserves.

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix into creamed
mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup nuts. Drop 2 level measuring tablespoonfuls
of dough into a mound to form each cookie. Place 2 inches apart on
cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 14 minutes. Cool on baking sheet one minute.
Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

For Frosting: Combine confectioners sugar, 1/4 cup preserves and 1
tablespoon Butter Flavor Crisco in small mixing bowl. Beat with
electric mixer until well blended. Frost cooled cookies. Sprinkle
finely chopped pecans over frosting, if desired.

VARIATIONS: Try peach or pineapple preserves in place of apricot.