Filled Date Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup fat free sour cream
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

To prepare the filling, cook the dates, 3/4 cup of sugar and water over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in the nuts, remove from the heat and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs, sour cream and almond extract. Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon, stir into the creamed mixture. Drop a rounded teaspoon of dough onto an unprepared cookie sheet, place a scant teaspoon of the filling on top of it, then top with an additional 1/2 teaspoon of dough. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until slightly browned.