Pecan Roll up cookies

Pecan roll ups

1 cup butter, softened

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract

96 pecan halves (about 2 cups)
Powdered sugar for rolling out and rolling in when done.

In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, almond extract, and salt until smooth. Gradually beat in flour. Divide dough in half; shape each into a disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 2 hours or until firm enough to roll.

Preheat oven to 350°. 
Dust a work surface with powdered sugar. Roll one portion of dough into an 18x8-in. rectangle; cut dough crosswise into six 3-in.-wide sections. Cut each section crosswise into eight 1-in.-wide strips. Roll each strip around a pecan half; place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough and pecans, dusting work surface with  additional powdered sugar.

Bake 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Watch closely for over browning, they can get too dark quite quickly. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.  

Place remaining confectioners' sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll cookies in sugar, coating well. 

Yield: 8 dozen.