2010 Cookie Contest: Cream Cheese Cookies

Submitted by Janel Wilburn

"I am not sure where this recipe originated. I found it while going through one of my Grandma Deneke's self-made cookbooks. [The cookies] are light and fluffy but with a good rich flavor. Every time I make them they are huge hit. Enjoy!"

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup oleo, softened

1 white cake mix (without pudding in the mix)

1 egg

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cream cheese and oleo until light and fluffy. Mix in 1/2 of the dry cake mix, egg and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Stir in remaining dry cake mix and pecans. Drop onto a cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let cookies cool before removing them from the cookie sheet.