Nana'S Cream Cheese Coconut Cookies

• 1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1 cup butter (can use less, see note above)
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 egg
• 2 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 60 pieces walnut halves (optional)

1. While the butter and cream cheese soften in their packages on the counter, toast the coconut flakes. I have found spreading the 1/2 cup (or more, if you like) of flakes on a cookie sheet toasts ~2-4 minutes in a 325 F oven. Set a timer and check often - many a 1/2 cup has been accidentally burned and tossed out :( When the coconut has a nice golden tinge, remove from oven and scrape into a small bowl. Set aside. Leave the oven on at 325 F.
2. Cream together butter, cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla.
3. Add egg and milk. Beat well.
4. Add flour (can do this all at once or separated by cup) and stir in the coconut.
5. Drop from a teaspoon onto a cookie sheet. Nana's recipe says you can use an ungreased cookie sheet, but I have always baked them on top of a silicone pad + sheet. Top each drop with a walnut half, if desired. The cookies do not spread out that much in the oven, so you can bake quite a bit each time.
6. Bake in the slow, 325 F oven for ~20-25 minutes. The cookies should develop a slight golden hue - depending on how moist or crispy you like your cookies, you may want to experiment with the baking time. Remove the cookies to a cooling rack and enjoy before someone else gets to them!

toasted coconut flakes, butter, cream cheese, sugar, salt, vanilla, milk, egg, flour, walnut halves

Taken from food52.com/recipes/36468-nana-s-cream-cheese-coconut-cookies (may not work)