California Dreamin' Cookies

Candy orange slices and white baking chips create a cookie begging to be tried.

Yield: about 4 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup white vanilla baking chips, melted and cooled
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• About 18 candy orange slices, each cut into thirds

Instructions

1. In large bowl, beat sugar, melted baking chips and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, or mix with spoon.
2. Beat in orange juice, vanilla extract and egg (mixture may appear curdled).
3. Stir in flour, baking powder, orange peel and salt.
4. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour or until easy to handle.
5. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until set (cookies will not brown).
8. Immediately press orange slice piece into center of each cookie.
9. Cool for 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Notes

Drizzle cooled cookies with melted white chocolate for a dressy touch.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Betty Crocker Kitchens