I'm sure you've heard of Cinco de Mayo. But have you heard of Cuatro de Mayo? It's better known as May 4th, and in my family it is known as Marla's Birthday. Of all the people I know who take their birthday seriously, my sister Marla takes the cake. Take a fun-loving person to begin with, add in a day to celebrate her birth, and you've got a formula for parties, presents, and treats galore. In fact, her boyfriend of a few years said this week that he is starting to understand that she doesn't just have a birthday; she has a birthday season that extends all week.
The flip side of this, of course, is that you don't mess with Marla's birthday. You'd think she would have forgotten by now that I got my first driver's license on her birthday, but trust me, she hasn't. Then when bought my first car on her birthday, she started to get annoyed. Follow that up with getting my Master's degree and she's now suspicious of all my activities on her birthday. I don't try to steal her spotlight, but things just seem to work out for me on her special day. I know she's just a little worried today that I will have the baby a few weeks early. (To tell the truth, I am, too.)
I thought to celebrate the occasion today, a cookie recipe would be perfect to share since my sister and I were cookie-making buddies every Saturday for the many years when we lived near each other in Minnesota. I'm picky when I bake cookies, and Marla is one person I know that consistently makes perfect cookies every batch. In fact, we had cookies and a milk fountain at my wedding and Marla slaved in the kitchen baking several hundred cookies the day before the wedding for it just because she's a great sister and I knew I could trust her to make delicious cookies. She's the kind of sister I hope my baby will be some day.
This recipe is one that I found after we had moved away from each other, and I miss her every time I make them because it's definitely a cookie you want to make with a buddy for calorie-sharing and labor reasons. I've shared them before but thought I'd repost them since it has been a few years and they are too good to be buried among other posts. They're in my top ten favorite cookies because of their uniqueness and their great flavor. They're a cream cheese-based cookies rolled in graham crackers and topped with pie filling. Each cookie is like a little bite of cheesecake but made without the hassle of a springform pan or water bath in the oven. If you are looking for a treat to celebrate this wonderful Cuatro de Mayo today, these would be the perfect treat. And if you happen to know my sister, make sure you don't forget to wish her a happy birthday today.
Cheesecake Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cans (20-ounce) cherry pie filling (or your favorite kind.)
Directions
- Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In another bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Refrigerate dough until firm, at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat liners. Place graham cracker crumbs in a shallow dish.
- Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls, then roll the balls in graham cracker crumbs. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using a tablespoon measure, make an indentation in the center of each ball. Place 3 cherries in the dimple. Bake until golden brown around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool for five minutes on the sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prep Time: 45 min (including refrigeration time) Cook Time: 14 min Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Recipe Source: Cook's Country
