#2687 - Bird Nest Cookies

(by Cousin Cathy [Minier] Ulrich)

2 cups softened butter
1 cup white sugar
4 egg yolks
4 cups flour
2 tsp. vanilla
4 egg whites (slightly beaten)
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup Baker's angelflake coconut
1 small jar maraschino cherries (drained, halved and dried on paper towels)
your favorite frosting

In a bowl add egg whites--beat slightly. In a mixer add butter and egg yolks--beat. Add white sugar--beat. Add vanilla--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Shape the dough into walnut sized balls. In a bowl add the chopped pecans and the coconut--stir to mix. Roll each dough ball into the egg whites first, then into the pecan/coconut mixture. Place each ball on a greased cookie sheet and use your thumb to make a well in each cookie. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes, remove from oven, press your thumb into each cookie again to make sure the well is set. Return them to the oven and bake 8 minutes longer. Cool completely. Fill each cookie nest with your favorite frosting and top with a maraschino cherry.