Deliciousthumbprintcookies Food

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix butter and powdered sugar together with a rubber spatula until creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and egg yolk. Mix with the spatula. Add flour and blend until just combined.
• Use a sorbet scoop to portion dough into 1/2-ounce (1-tablespoon) balls. Roll balls in a plate of white sugar to coat; roll again between your palms. Place several inches apart on a silicone-lined baking sheet. Flatten balls lightly with your fingers.
• To make shortbread cookies with a little jam, poke a well into each cookie using the end of a thick wooden spoon dusted with powdered sugar or using one of your fingers. Fill cookies with fruit jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter to let jam settle.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops are barely blonde and bottoms are slightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before icing.
• Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar with a little milk until you have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. Pipe icing on top of cookies in a zigzag pattern. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
• For a more jam-forward cookie, press your thumb into the cookies to make large, shallow indentations. Spoon in jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter.
• Bake until not quite golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let rest on pan for 5 minutes before transferring a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

FRUIT-FILLED THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, if desired.
• COMBINE cookie mix, flour, softened butter, egg and vanilla in medium bowl. Mix with spoon until soft dough is formed.
• USE level measuring teaspoon of dough to make 3/4-inch balls. Dip into egg whites, then roll in pecans. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Make a rounded indentation in the center of each cookie.
• BAKE 10 minutes. Remake rounded indentation in cookie. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon preserves. Bake an additional 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Cool completely.
• * To soften butter: Heat unwrapped butter in microwave 10 to 15 seconds.

SWEET & NUTTY THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*.
• Cream sugar, shortening, butter, vanilla and egg yolk.
• Stir in flour and salt until dough holds together.
• Shape into 1 inch balls.
• Beat egg white slightly.
• Dip each cookie ball in the egg white; roll in the nuts.
• Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
• Press thumb deeply in center of each.
• Bake until light brown, about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from cookie sheet, cool.
• Fill thumbprints with jelly.