Coconut M&M's Easter Cookies

Ingredients:

• Flour, 2 cups
• Baking powder, 1 tbs
• Salt, 1/4 tsp
• Butter (softened), 3/4 cup
• Cream cheese (softened), 225 gr
• Sugar, 1 cup
• Coconut extract, 3/4 tsp
• Grated desiccated coconut, 1 1/2 cup
• red food coloring, few drops
• M&M's (pastel colored), 1 bag

Preparation:

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, set aside.

With a mixer, cream butter and cheese; add sugar and coconut extract, beating until fluffy.

Gradually beat in flour mixture and 1 cup of coconut.

Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes (or until firm enough to handle)

Take 1/2 cup of coconut and tint with 1-2 drops red coloring (place in a covered container, add food coloring, and shake until evenly tinted).

Roll large tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Roll each in coconut until lightly coated.

Place balls on greased cookie sheets and press  some m&ms into each cookie.

Bake for 12 minutes in a previously pre-heated oven at 180°C.

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Refrigerate in a sealed container until ready to serve.