Kissed Macaroons

I have a confession to make. Up until our trip to Jamaica last summer, I didn't like coconut (unless it was on a zinger!) After having a few mixed drinks with coconut flavoring throughout the week I started to acquire a taste for it. Then when we went to Hawaii in December, I really started to like it. We brought back quite a bit of goodies with Chocolate and coconut to share with my family and boy were they a hit. I even made a chocolate and coconut pie for Christmas. I haven't made any coconut treats since then, so when Christopher asked me to make a treat to take to his parents house I couldn't resist. My mom gave me a cookbook that is all about Chocolate and on the cover is a picture of these delicious cookies. I knew right away my taste buds wouldn't be happy until I made them. After a quick trip to the store for coconut and Hershey's kisses, I was set and ready to go. The book calls them "Kisses Macaroon Cookies", but I didn't like that name so I renamed them Kissed Macaroons. I didn't follow the recipe exactly as the book said, but they still tasted delicious. Here is the recipe.

Kissed Macaroons

1/3 cup butter (softened)
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp orange juice
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 bag coconut flakes (divided)
1 bag Hershey's kisses

Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in a kitchen aid mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add the egg yolk, vanilla extract and orange juice, beat well. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt, gradually add to the butter mixture. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of coconut. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour until firm enough to handle. (While the dough it chilling you can unwrap about 30 kisses.)

Heat oven to 350.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in remaining coconut flakes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10 to 12 minutes (or until lightly browned.) Immediately after removing from the oven press the kiss into the center of each cookie. Allow to cook for 1 minute on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack.

Grab a glass of milk and ENJOY!!