CHERRY PECAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
1 cup (2 8-TB sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar.............................................1 egg
1 tsp. real vanilla extract........................................1/4 to 1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
about 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped pecans......................2-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
about 1-1/2 cups red and green candied (glazed) cherry halves (about 24-26 total cherries)
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Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar in electric mixer bowl. Add the egg, vanilla, salt and nutmeg ~ beat until blended (may not incorporate well and look clumpy. Don't worry ~ it will be fine when you add the flour). Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the flour; beat on medium until incorporated (will be thick).
Scrape down the sides and the mixer paddle. Fold in the pecans and cherry halves with rubber scraper and/or wooden spoon, until it's mixed together well.
Make cookie balls (about a heaping TB) and put them on the baking sheets. I do all the cookie balls, so that I can go back and make sure that they're all the same size ~ and that I have red & green in each of the balls (you can always cut an extra red or green cherry if you need them in any of the cookie balls). They don't spread, but I still only put 1 dozen on each cookie sheet (although 20 would fit). Flatten down with your fingers to about 2" across. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown and they're firm to the touch (the tops don't brown).
Makes 5-6 dozen. TIP: If you want to cut the recipe in half, use EGG BEATERS ~ 2 TB = 1/2 egg