Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3 ounces softened cream cheese
3 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled
2 1/2 Cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces vanilla flavored candy coating, melted
3/4 cup finely crushed hard peppermint candies or finely chopped
pistachio nuts

Directions

Heat oven to 375 F. Mix sugar, butter, vanilla, egg, cream cheese and chocolate till smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half, roll each half to 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured cloth covered surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2 1/2 inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or till dry and set. Remove from cookie sheet to rack to cool. Roll 1/4 inch of edge of each cookie in candy coating, immediately roll in candies or nuts. Place on waxed paper. Let stand 10 minutes or till coating is set.