Cream Cheese Snowball Cookies

Cream Cheese Snowball Cookies 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup finely-chopped walnuts (optional) 1/2 cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco(R)) 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift the confectioners' sugar into a shallow bowl, stir in the walnuts, and set aside. Beat the shortening, butter, cream cheese, and sugar together in a bowl until the mixture is creamy and thoroughly blended. Mix in the almond extract, vanilla extract, and flour; stir to combine. Scoop up dough by rounded tablespoons, and roll into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place the balls about 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies turn slightly golden at the edges, about 6 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 1 minute, then roll in the confectioners' sugar-walnut mixture while still a little warm.