Jelly Bean Nest Cookies

My sister-in-law makes these yummy, cute cookies every year for our extended family Easter egg hunt.  She is a wonderful aunt to make these every year for her nieces and nephews!

1 cup butter or margarine
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 1/2 cups flour

small jelly beans (Starburst Jelly Bean or Jelly Belly size)
flaked coconut (tinted green)
green food color

To tint coconut green, place coconut in a plastic bag with several drops of green food color and  shake to coat.

Beat together margarine and cream cheese.  Add sugar, egg, vanilla, coconut and almond extracts.  Mix till creamy.  Add baking powder and flour, add flour one cup at a time beating well after each addition.  Roll the dough into small balls.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cookies will not brown on top and remain a creamy white color.  Remove from the oven and immediately scoop the top out of each cookie.  Fill the top of each cookie with tinted coconut to make a nest.  Place 3 jelly beans on top.

Note: To use this recipe when it is not Easter time, omit coconut and jelly beans and stir in 12 oz. package of chocolate chips into the dough.
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