Mounds Rich, Moist And Chewy Macaroon Cookies

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, softened (*i use unsalted real butter)
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups mounds sweetened flaked coconut, divided
• maraschino cherry, halves (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar til well blended.
• 2 add egg yolk, o.j., and almond extract.
• 3 in small bowl, whisk/mix flour, baking powder and salt.
• 4 gradually add to butter mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• 5 stir in well, 3 cups coconut.
• 6 cover and chill 1 hour or til firm enough to handle and roll into balls.
• 7 heat oven to 350.
• 8 shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll into last cup of coconut. you can lightly press it on a little.
• 9 place onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• 10 bake 12-15 minutes (mine took 15! *the original recipe said 10-12 and that wasn't even long enough, they sank after i took them out and had to re-bake them!)or until lightly browned. i suggest at least 13 minutes, but again, mine took 15.
• 11 leave them on the cookie sheet 1 minute, then carefully and gently remove to wire racks to cool.
• 12 *you can gently press a maraschino cherry half in the center of each cookie on top, if desired, before baking.
• 13 makes 3-3 1/2 dozen.