Apricot Pillows

Description

 * Makes about 20 cookies.

Ingredients

 * ½ cup sugar
 * 1 stick butter, softened (4oz)
 * 1 egg
 * ½ tsp almond extract
 * 1½ cup flour
 * ½ tsp baking powder
 * ⅛ tsp salt
 * ¼ cup firmly packed dried apricots
 * 1 tbsp honey

Directions

 * 1) In medium bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
 * 2) Beat in egg and almond extract until light and fluffy.
 * 3) Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt and add, beat on low speed until dough is smooth, scraping down sides of bowl frequently with a rubber spatula.
 * 4) Wrap dough and refrigerate 2-3 hours, until firm.
 * 5) Meanwhile, finely chop dried apricots.
 * 6) In a small bowl stir together apricots and honey
 * 7) Set apricot filling aside at room temperature until dough has chilled.
 * 8) Heat oven to 350 °F.
 * 9) Between pieces of waxed paper, roll out dough ⅛" thick.
 * 10) Cut out cookies with 2" round cutter.
 * 11) Reroll scraps to make additional cookies.
 * 12) Place half of cookies 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets.
 * 13) Spoon about ½ teaspoon apricot filling into center of cookies.
 * 14) Moisten edges of cookies with water and top with remaining cookies to make a sandwich.
 * 15) Press edges together with fingertips to seal.
 * 16) Pierce center of each "pillow" with tines of fork.
 * 17) Bake 10-12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
 * 18) Let cookies cool 2 minutes on sheets, then remove to racks and cool completely.
 * 19) Store in a tightly covered container.