1/2 c Shortening; butter flavored

3 oz Cream cheese; softened

1 tb Milk

1/4 c Brown sugar, packed

1/2 c Apricot preserves

1 1/4 c All-purpose flour

1 1/2 ts Baking powder

1 1/2 ts Ground cinnamon

1/4 ts Salt

1/2 c Pecans; coarsely chopped

=or coconut flakes Frosting: 1 c Powdered sugar

1/4 c Apricot preserves

1 tb Shortening; butter flavored

Coconut flakes; optional =or finely chopped pecans Recipe by: Treasury of Christmas Recipes Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease cookie sheets with butter flavored shortening. Cream the shortening, cream cheese and milk with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in the brown sugar. Beat in the preserves. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix into the creamed mixture. Stir in the nuts. Drop 2 level tablespoons of dough into a mound to form each cookie. Place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake for 14 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheets for 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely before frosting. For the frosting, combine the powdered sugar, preserves and shortening in a small bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until well blended. Frost the cooled cookies; sprinkle with coconut, if desired. Penny Halsey (ATBN65B). Variation: Try peach or pineapple preserves in place of apricot. -----