Fabulous Filbert Football Cookies Aka Super Bowl Cookies

DIRECTIONS

• In large mixing bowl, beat brown sugar and butter until creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Add egg and cinnamon; beat until light and fluffy.
• Add flour, cocoa and baking soda, beating on low speed to combine.
• Mix in ground nuts. Dough will be somewhat stiff.
• Shape dough into 2 flat rounds; cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
• On surface dusted lightly with flour, roll out 1 round at a time to 1/8-inch thickness. The dough may be a bit stiff at first and crack a bit. That's ok keep at it, they will be fine :).
• With cookie cutter, cut out football shapes.
• Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheets coated with cooking spray or parchment paper.
• Using a knife, mark laces on 1/2 of the footballs. These will be the "tops".
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are no longer moist.
• Remove from cookie sheets and place on wire racks to cool.
• Place white chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe dish; microwave on 50 percent power for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every 30-45 seconds until the chips are melted.
• Fill pastry bag fitted with a tip to achieve a thin line with white chocolate mixture. Pipe melted white chocolate onto the back of an unmarked cookie; top with a cookie with laces marked on it to make a sandwich. Decorate the top by piping on additional melted white chocolate to resemble laces on football.
• Repeat with remaining cookies.
• Makes 2 to 3 dozen cookies, depending on size of cutter.
• I recommend doubling the white chocolate mixture so you can be a bit more generous with the filling. I make 1 batch per round of cookie dough.
• Based on a recipe from the National Pork Board :).