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Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these are some of our favorite #christmas #cookies. These thumbprint cookies have #apricot preserves in the center. #dessert

Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies

Teresa Ambra
Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies are some of the best Thumbprint Cookies ever! This scrumptious Christmas cookie is made with a soft shortbread dough that includes cream cheese. Then apricot preserves are put in the centers of each cookie. After baking the cookies are sprinkled with powdered sugar. These cookies are always a favorite whenever we bake them. Marvelous for Christmas Cookie Exchanges and holiday baking.
3.68 from 152 votes
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 54
Calories 122 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 large 15x26" cookie sheet pans
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 lemon zester or grater

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tsp. lemon rind grated
  • 4 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup apricot preserves or as needed
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar as needed (powdered sugar)

Instructions
 

  • Combine butter, granulated sugar and softened cream cheese with an electric mixer, mixing until well blended.
  • Blend in eggs, lemon juice and lemon rind.
  • Add combined dry ingredients; mix well.
  • Chill dough at least one hour.
  • Shape level tablespoonfuls of dough into balls.
  • Place on cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Using thumb or finger, indent centers; fill each with about 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. of preserves.
  • Bake at 350° for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Rotate cookie sheets on oven racks every six minutes of baking time.
  • Cool; sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

Notes

NOTE: You must chill the dough in this recipe. The dough is too hard to work with otherwise.
 
NOTE: Preparation time does not include time required to chill the dough.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 49mgPotassium: 31mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 179IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apricot, cookie, cream cheese, dessert, thumbprint cookie
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