St. Patrick's Day Cookies

• 1 cup white sugar
  
  
  
• 1 cup butter, softened
  
  
  
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  
  
  
• ½ teaspoon salt
  
  
  
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
  
  
  
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  
  
• 1 egg yolk
  
  
  
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  
  
  

Directions

• Step 1
  In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg yolk. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour until well blended. Chill the dough for 8 hours, or overnight.
  
  
• Step 2
  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  
  
• Step 3
  On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/3 at a time to 1/8 inch thickness, refrigerating remaining dough until ready to use. Cut into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Leave cookies plain for frosting, or brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with candy sprinkles or colored sugar.
  
  
• Step 4
  Bake for 7 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light and golden brown. Cool cookies completely before frosting.