Bird Nest Cookies by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients:

• Butter 1 cup
• Cream cheese 8 oz
• Sugar 2 cups
• Egg 1
• Vanilla essence 1 tsp
• Coconut essence 1/4 tsp
• Almond essence 1/4 tsp
• Flour 3-1/2 cups
• Baking powder 1 tsp
• Flaked coconut as required
• Green food color as required

Method:

1. Egg shaped candies: Reese's eggs, Cadbury eggs, Peanut M&M's or jellybeans work great!
2. Beat together butter and cream cheese till smooth. Beat in sugar.
3. Add egg, vanilla, and almond and coconut essences. Mix well.
4. Stir in the flour and baking powder. Roll dough in balls.
5. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets.
6. Make an indentation in each one using the back of a tablespoon.
7. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Cookies will not brown.
8. Remove from oven and use the spoon to press down the indentation again.
9. Let cookies cool completely.
10. Mix coconut with a couple of drops of green food coloring in a small bowl with a lid.
11. Cover and shake till coconut is tinted green.
12. Fill nests with coconut, and add a few egg candies.