Decorated Hanukkah Cookies

Ingredients:

½ c.              unsalted butter, softened
1 (3 oz.)        package cream cheese
½ c.              granulated sugar
¼ c.              honey
1                  egg
½ tsp.           vanilla extract
2½ c.            all-purpose flour
1/3 c.            finely ground walnuts
1 tsp.            baking powder
¼ tsp.           salt

Assorted colored icings, sprinkles and colored sugars

Instructions:

Beat first six ingredients in large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Form dough into ball; wrap in plastic wrap and flatten. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease cookie sheets. Roll out dough, small portion at a time, to ¼-inch thickness on floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin. (Keep remaining dough wrapped in refrigerator.) Cut dough with 2½ inch to 3 inch dreidel-shaped cookie cutter and 6-pointed star cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 1 to 2 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Decorate cookies with colored icings, sprinkles and colored sugars (blue and white are the most traditional Hanukkah colors).

Makes 3½ dozen cookies