Delicate Mint Holiday Sandwich Cookies

I came across this recipe on Food Network's website for new ideas. Below is my adapted version. I happened to have 2 ounces of cream cheese in the refrigerator, so it was meant to be! These cute cookies are a great size for a holiday party. They are not too sweet either. The cookies themselves have nice buttery flavor and are slightly crispy. I didn't decorate mine with sugar, but it would have been a nice touch. I'll remember that for next year!

Ingredients
Cookies: 
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
2 ounces cream cheese softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar 
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 

Mint Filling:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 
2 tablespoons butter softened
1 drop mint extract 
2 drops red or green food coloring 
1/2-1 teaspoons water

Instructions
For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the flour slowly, mixing on low, until incorporated. Scoop the dough into a ball using your hands and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until the dough has firmed slightly, about 30 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll the dough about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out as many rounds as possible with a small cookie cutter and transfer to ungreased baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie. Re-roll the dough scraps and repeat until all the dough is used.

Bake until golden around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

For the filling: Place the sugar, butter, mint extract, food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of water in a medium bowl and beat on medium speed until well combined and fluffy. Spread a thin layer of mint filling on the cookies and form sandwiches.
Yields 18 sandwiches