Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• colored crystal sugar or decorator icing, if desired

Directions

1. 1

   In large bowl, combine all ingredients except flour and colored sugar; beat until light and fluffy.

2. 2

   Add flour; mix well. Shape dough into 3 disks. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

3. 3

   Heat oven to 375°F On floured surface, roll out 1 disk of dough at a time to 1/8-inch thickness. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated.) Cut with lightly floured 2 1/2-inch round or desired shape cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate with colored sugar.

4. 4

   Bake at 375°F for 6 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. If desired, frost and decorate plain cookies.