Holiday Cookies

Here is a few of the delicious cookies we made up this past weekend.

Chocolate Ravioli cookies

4 squares semi sweet chocolate,
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened,
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, ( I used butter instead)
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts

Melt 2 squares of chocolate in the top of a double boiler or in the microwave, and let cool. In a large bowl, mix together butter, shortening, sugar and eggs. Stir in meted chocolate. Add flour, baking powder, salt and and baking soda. mix well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until dough is firm.
To make filling, melt remaining chocolate, Add ricotta cheese and hazelnuts. mix well and set filling aside.
preheat oven to 350 degrees. on a floured surface or on wax paper, roll half of the dough into a 9x13 inch rectangle. cut into 1 /2 squares. spoon 1 tbsp of filling onto half of the squares and cover with remaining squares. press edges together with a fork to seal. repeat with remaining dough. Arrange cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool.
From the Ultimate Cookie Book,Tormont Publications.

Easy Cream Cheese Truffles

8 ounce package cream cheese,
4 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
5 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled,
1/4 each of different coatings, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds, coconut flakes, cocoa, crushed candy canes,powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. slowly add 4 cups powdered sugar. beat until smooth. Add melted chocolate and beat until blended. Chill for approximately one hour. Shape chilled mixture into one inch balls. roll in various coatings. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. makes 6 1/2 dozen truffles.

Recipe from Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 2, my aunt has been making these truffles for Christmas since 2002.