For the dough:

• Beat the butter and the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Slowly add the sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Stir in the flour and salt. Now if you are a little lazy like me you add the flour to the mixer being careful not to get flour all over you kitchen. The reason to stir in the flour is so the dough does not get tough, I have been mixing it in for yours with the mixer and have not had a problem.
• Divide the dough into eight equal portions.
• Flatten into discs and wrap individually in plastic wrap.
• Chill at least 8 hours or longer.

For the filling:

• Take all of the filling ingredients and put them into the bowl of the food processor.
• Make sure the nuts are hot out of the oven.
• Pulse everything until it is a paste, with a little texture. Sort of the consistency of chunky peanut butter, not creamy.

For assembling:

• While you are getting the ingredients ready for the filling take your dough out to let it become a little soft, otherwise it is too hard to roll out.
• Preheat the oven to 350.
• You can use greased cookie sheets, or cookie sheets lined with Silpat baking mats. ( If you do not have one and you like to bake, run to the nearest store, they are great because nothing sticks to them!)
• On a lightly floured surface, take one piece of dough and toll it out. Now this is where I like to take the easy way out, I roll my dough into a little bit of a rectangle so that I can add my filling an roll up like a cinnamon roll, which I then chill and then cut into pieces.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Put the cookies onto the baking sheet and then place them back into the refrigerator to chill. I think it helps them hold their shape better.
• Wash with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
• Take one log, cut into about one inch pieces and bake for recommended time.
• Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.
• Watch the cookies because your oven could be hotter or cooler.
• Bake until golden brown and then remove from pan to cool.

Alternative Assembly methods:

Crescents:

• Roll into a large pizza-type circle.
• Spread 3 tablespoons of filling onto dough, leaving a 1/2 inch at the outer edge.
• Cut with a knife or pizza wheel into 8 triangles. Then beginning at the wide end, roll into crescent shapes.

Bars:

• Divide the dough into two pieces.
• Make one into a bottom crust in a small pan.
• Add the filling.
• Cover with the other crust, to make a bar cookie.