Peppermint Snowballs

We made these for Santa this year. I think if I were to make them again I would try to put more filling in each cookie. That was the fun chewy part.

(from Penzey Spice Magazine)

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter (1 cup), softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Filling Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon milk

2 Tablespoon crushed pepperming candy

1 drop red food coloring (optional)

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

Cream together the butter and the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and mix well. Gradually add the flour and mix well. Knead the dough and then cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

While the dough is chilling, prepare the filling by beating together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, crushed candy and food coloring until well blended.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough into balls about teaspoon size. Make an indentation in the center of each ball and fill with 1/4 teaspoon of filling. Cover the indentation with another 1/4 teaspoon of dough. Smooth and reshape the dough balls. Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl. Roll the balls of dough in topping and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake until firm, about 12 minutes. (It took my about 20 minutes, but I think my rolled balls were bigger.) After removing from oven, roll the warm cookies in the topping once again.

Makes 3-4 dozen.