Cherry Cheesecake Cookies

Total Time: 54 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 14 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 20 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (see note)
• 3 (20 ounce) cans cherry pie filling, drained

Recipe

• 1 make dough combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. with electric mixer on medium-high speed, 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, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. refrigerate dough until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• 2 heat oven adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. place graham cracker crumbs in shallow dish.
• 3 assemble cookies roll dough into 1½-inch balls, then roll in crumbs. place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. using tablespoon measure, make indentation in center of each ball. place 3 cherries in each dimple. bake until golden around edges, 12 to 14 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. cool 5 minutes on sheets, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. (cookies can be stored in airtight container for 2 days.).