Walnut Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup apricot preserves 
• 0.5 cup butter softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
• 3 ounce cream cheese 
• 1  eggs separated
• 1 cup flour all-purpose sifted
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 cup walnut pieces finely chopped

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• wire rack

Directions

1. Cream butter, cream cheese, egg yolk, vanilla, lemon peel and salt until fluffy. Gradually mix in confectioners' sugar, then the flour to make stiff dough.
2. Chill dough for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
4. Shape dough into 30 - one inch balls.
5. Beat egg white until foamy. Dip balls in egg white then roll in chopped nuts. Arrange 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and make a depression in each with your thumb.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cookies begin to brown on the bottoms. Carefully remove to wire rack and while hot fill each depression with 1/2 teaspoon of apricot preserves or your favorite jam.