Here’s another recipe that’s great for us empty nesters. These are so good and definitely not hard to make. I often make these when I need to send a finger food type dish. They’re very easy to freeze and then fix just what you need.
Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter, at room temp
3 oz. cream cheese, at room temp
3/4 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. lemon zest
1 T. lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
2-1/4 c. all purpose flour
2 T. butter, melted
1/2 c. finely shopped pecans
1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
Directions:
Beat together butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Stir in the flour until well combined. Refrigerate while preparing the nut mixture.
Mix together the pecans and graham cracker crumbs with butter. Pour half into an oblong dish or onto a piece of waxed paper.
Form a log with half of the cookie dough and roll it in the crust mixture. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. Wrap separately in plastic wrap and freeze at least 30 minutes. (I often make it the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight, then stick it in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing.) And, you can keep the logs in the fridge for several days before slicing and baking.
Slice dough into 1/4″ thick rounds and place on an ungreased baking sheet. I use parchment paper to line the baking sheets.
Bake at 375º for 8 – 10 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
If you’re like us and don’t need 5 dozen cookies, here’s what I do. I doubled the recipe! Makes sense, huh? 
Divide into 9 or 10 balls and roll those into logs. Wrap in plastic wrap.
Stick those in a freezer bag and label, freeze til needed.
When it’s time to bake them, take them out and let them come to room temp. Mix up as much of the pecan/butter/graham cracker crust that you’ll need just for this batch. Depending on how cold (and hard) your cookie log is, you may have to really mash the crumb mixture into the cookie dough.
Then re-wrap these logs, stick them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Take them out and slice into 1/4″ slices.
Now you can spread them on the cookie sheet and bake them.
Most of this batch went to work with Vince. These few stayed home with us but there’s plenty more dough in the freezer.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, those are so good looking! Wouldn’t you know cheesecake is my favorite!! I can see a couple logs of these being done tonight… Thanks!
Oh my….those look absolutely delicious!
Oh yum…thanks for the recipe I’ll definately be trying it.
Saving this recipe! I heart everything cheesecake!
OH….do they mail well??? If you don’t know and want to try it out, I’ll volunteer to let you send them HERE!!!
These look so-o-o good. I have saved the recipe and will make them soon! It’s great to have something in the freezer to fix when needed.
Those look like a good cookie to make and send back with Nick to school! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Judy, Here I am at 1:20 am reading your post and came across these cheesecake cookies!!! Oh how I want something sweet now. Do you think it’s too late to eat a snack??? I sure wish I had some of those cookies handy or frozen. I would HAVE to bake them, right now! I will definitely make these tomorrow , oops, I mean later today , it’s already tomorrow. Nitey nite. Dar
OMG, those cookies look of yummy. I’m going to try your recipe over the Labor Day weekend. The granddaughters will love them. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for “cooking for two” recipes. I will try these. Such a sweet tooth and I’m supposed to be on the straight and narrow.
Judy, I wish you were my next door neighbor. I’d gladly cut your quilts for you in exchange for some of your yummy food. These cookies look delicious. I am going to try them very soon as my family loves anything with cream cheese.
Judy, these look so good. I’ve made your Polish Cookie recipe several times. I know these will be good. I have some kids who don’t like nuts and love chocolate. I just wonder what it would be like to omit the nuts and use those tiny chocolate chips for rolling in. Rolling in chocolate chips would certainly be heaven for some folks. Ha Ha I’m going to try it.
I’m making these for my next bunco group game!!! Maybe I’ll serve them with strawberry dipping syrup. YUM, YUM!!!
Those cookies look so very good! If I wasn’t on a healthy eating regimen I would bake a batch of those right now! Apples and blueberries will have to suffice for me.
These look delicious. I wonder, however, why you don’t freeze them already rolled in the crust mixture. Would there be a problem with doing that?