Chocolate Orange Pastries - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 ounces low-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel recommended, at room temperature)
2 -3 teaspoons orange zest (optional)
2 refrigerated pie crusts (such as Pillsbury Ready Roll, at room temperature)
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 dash salt
1 egg (separated)
1/4 - 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons sugar

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, orange marmalade, egg yolk, and orange zest until well blended.
Unroll the pie crust on a work surface. Cut the pie crusts into 32 circles using a 2 1/2\" fluted cookie cutter.
Spread about two teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture over half the pastry circles, leaving a void about 1/4\" from the edges.
Top the cream cheese with 8-10 mini chocolate chips.
Top each pastry circle with another pastry circle. Crimp the edges with a fork.
Brush beaten egg white over the pastries. Sprinkle each pastry with a bit of sugar.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastries are a light golden brown.
Remove pastries from the baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.