Cream Cheese Dainties

1 cup butter, softened

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon almond extract

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2½ cups crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed

Red and green candied cherries, cut in half

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter, cream cheese, sugar and almond extract until light.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until just combined. Chill dough 1 to 2 hours.

Shape into 1-inch balls, roll in cereal and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Top each with a cherry piece and bake just until set, about 5 minutes.

Makes four dozen.

Kathy Lee, 2005