Chocolate-dipped, Orange & Almond Cookies

Woo-wee, that’s one winning combination isn’t it? You’ve got that delicious chocolate mixed with orange zest and then finely chopped almonds. It’s really, really hard to just eat one of these delightful little morsels. Let’s get right to the recipe shall we?

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 pkg (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp grated orange peel
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup finely chopped blanched almonds
• For Glaze:
• 5 ounces of chocolate, chopped
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds

In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and orange peel. Combine the flour ad salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix ell. Stir in almonds.

Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.

For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Immediately sprinkle with almonds. Place on waxed paper until set.

Yield: 6 dozen