Nana's Pear Brandy Spritzers

These rich and decadent cookies are the perfect treat to add to your holiday party! Make these for a number of gatherings such as a cookie exchange or a secret Santa party. The brandy adds a wonderfully warm flavor to the cookies and your guests will definitely appreciate this original recipe.

Ingredients

Cookies

1/2 cup cream cheese (4 ounces)
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons Pear Brandy
2 cups all-purpose flour

Brandied Chocolate Icing

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon Pear Brandy

Directions

Cookie

Preheat oven to 400F (205C).

Add cream cheese and shortening into a mixing bowl and beat together until creamy.

Beat in granulated sugar. Add brandy and mix well. Add flour and beat into mixture until combined.

Spoon dough into a cookie press or pastry bag with a large tip.

Force dough through cookie press 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 5 - 7 minutes.

Brandied Chocolate Icing

To make the brandied chocolate icing, melt chocolate chips in a small saucepan over a larger pot of simmering water.

Stir in pear brandy. Remove cookies from the oven and transfer to a sheet of wax paper.

Immediately glaze the tops of the cookies with a thin coat of brandied chocolate icing.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Makes

36 cookies