Peppermint Poppers

My DH calls these cookies "Triple Threats" a buttery cookie filled with a mellow mint cream and rolled in crunchy crushed peppermint candy! So GOOD!!!!!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 42 cookies

Ingredients

• 1  cup  softened butter (no substitutes please)
• 1 1⁄2 cups  sifted confectioners' sugar, divided
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1⁄2 cups  sifted flour
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans
• 2  tablespoons cream cheese
• 1  teaspoon milk
• 1⁄2 cup  crushed  candy cane, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cookie Dough:.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream butter with 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Gradually add flour and pecans; mix well. Chill dough.
4. Meanwhile, prepare filling: Blend cream cheese and milk until smooth; gradually add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and 3 tablespoons crushed candy cane.
5. Form rounded teaspoonfuls of chilled cookie dough into balls. Make an indentation in the top of each ball; fill with 1/4 teaspoon peppermint filling. Press dough together to seal top and enclose filling. Arrange cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set but NOT brown.
6. Meanwhile, mix remaining candy and remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a small dish. Roll warm cookies in candy and sugar mixture. Cool, then roll cookies in candy mixture again.