Citrus Trio Butter Dipping Cookies

1. Enjoy these cookies inspired by delicious langues-de-chat, delicate French tea cookies. I love these with coffee, tea, or even with rich hot chocolate — perfect for dipping as you sip! Or, you could even dip the cookies into melted chocolate or caramel.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Add the butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. On the lowest speed, gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture, just until blended. Divide the batter into 3 bowls, and gently stir in the different zests among the bowls, making 3 citrus flavored batters.
5. Scrape each batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip, or a sturdy plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe 2-inch long strips, about 2 inches apart, on a cold unlined baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeat with the other batches.
6. Remove from the oven, and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing with a spatula to cool completely on baking rack. Serve with tea or coffee, or just nibble...addictive!
7. Cook's Note: To butter cookie purists: these are also delicious without the zest!
8. *Note: This recipe has been updated as of December 8, 2009.

Vegan Variation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add the margarine, vegan cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. (The mixture will look a little separated at this point. No worries, it comes together - scrape down the sides of the bowl.)
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. On the lowest speed, gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture, just until blended. Divide the batter into 3 bowls, and gently stir in the different zests among the bowls, making 3 citrus flavored batters.
4. Scrape each batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip, or a sturdy plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe 2-inch long strips about 2-inches apart on a cold unlined baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeat with the other batches.
5. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing with a spatula to cool completely on baking rack. Serve with tea or coffee, or just nibble...addictive!
6. *Note: This recipe has been updated as of December 8, 2009.