Shelly's Recipe

LEMON CREAM CHEESE COOKIE CUPS

Category: Recipes

Dough:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray

Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 large egg
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
Topping:
1/4 cup commercial fat-free lemon curd
1/4 cup sliced almonds

To prepare dough, beat 1/2 cup sugar and butter at medium speed of a mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add flour, baking powder, and salt to sugar mixture; beat at low speed until well-blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; freeze 15 minutes. Gently press dough into bottom and up sides of 24 miniature muffin cups coated with cooking spray.

Preheat oven to 350F. To prepare filling, place 1/2 cup sugar and the next 4 ingredients (1/2 cup sugar through cream cheese) in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides of processor bowl occasionally. Spoon 1 tablespoon filling into each prepared muffin cup. Bake at 350F for 23 minutes or until edges are brown and filling is set. Remove cups from pans immediately; cool on a wire rack.

To prepare topping, spoon 1/2 teaspoon lemon curd onto each cookie cup. Sprinkle with almonds. Makes 24 cookies.