Fruited Cream Cheese Gems

[nebulized]

Fruited Cream Cheese Gems

1/4 cup butter or margarine, room temperature
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
One 18.5-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 cup raisins, chopped and pitted (dates or chopped dried apricots)
1/3 cup flaked or shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, beat together butter or margarine, cream cheese, egg yolk and vanilla until creamy. Beat in dry cake mix, one-third at a time, blending in last portion by hand. Stir in raisins, dates or apricots, coconut and walnuts. Drop by level tablespoonfuls, 2 inch apart an greased baking sheet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies from baking sheets, cool on rack.

Makes 48 cookies.