Instructions

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  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Have two ungreased cookie sheets on hand.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, cream cheese, salt, vanilla, Fiori di Sicilia, and zest just until smooth. Beat in the egg yolk, then mix in the flour.

  3. Fill a cookie press 3/4 full with the dough and press the cookies onto the baking sheets. Give the press a quarter turn after squeezing and before lifting it up; this can help the cookies stay in place. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar.

  4. Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, until light brown around the edges.

  5. Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies from the pan to the rack to finish cooling completely.

  6. Store cooled cookies, well-wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • If you're not using a cookie press, simply drop the dough by the teaspoonful onto the ungreased baking sheets. Top with coarse white sparkling sugar or colored sugar, if desired.