European Old Lady Cookies

• 1 lb unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 2-4 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 egg yolks only
• 4 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Blend butter and sugar until smooth
3. Add cream cheese and beat for about 1 minute, then add the egg yolks and vanilla extract (if using store bought extract, you will only need 2 tbsp, but if you use homemade extract you might need more, taste as you go), Beat until well incorporated.
4. Sift flour and baking powder together then add to mix in 3rds, mixing each time until incorporated.
5. Refrigerate overnight wrapped in plastic.
6. Using a rolling pin, roll dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness and cut with your favourite cookie cutters.
7. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10-15 minutes until lightly brown on the bottom.
8. Transfer to a rack to cool, then lightly sprinkle with icing sugar.

Alternate versions of this recipe are:

• cut into rounds, bake and then sandwich two rounds with apricot or sour cherry jam
• cut into wide strips and spread a nut mixture onto the strip, roll, then cut into spiral rounds and bake.
• nut mixture – 4 egg whites, 4 cups of nuts (walnut, pecan or almonds), 1 cup sugar
• cut into triangles, place a strip of turkish delight at the top point and roll into a ‘croissant’, then bake.