Chocolate Almond Thumbprints Food

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND BUTTER THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Adjust the racks to the top and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Combine the butter and almond butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a hand mixer). Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the brown sugar and 1/3 cup of the granulated sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Adjust the speed to medium-low and add the flour in two batches, mixing until just incorporated.
• Combine the chopped almonds and the remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar in a small bowl.
• Scoop out even tablespoons of cookie dough, roll into balls and then dredge in the almond-sugar mixture. Space the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies appear dry and slightly cracked on the top and golden brown on the bottom, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Use the rounded side of a teaspoon to make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• For the chocolate ganache filling: While the cookies cool, combine the chocolate and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 45 second increments, stirring well between each, until smooth. Let cool completely at room temperature.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip with the chocolate ganache. Pipe about 1 teaspoon of the ganache into the center of each cookie. Serve, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CHEWY ALMOND AND CHERRY THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the almond flour on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring halfway through, until golden brown and toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Immediately add it to a medium bowl to cool for 5 minutes. Line the baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and set aside.
• Add the coconut sugar, honey, limoncello, lemon zest, salt and egg to the toasted flour. Using a rubber spatula, stir until well combined and evenly moistened. Scoop heaping 1-tablespoon scoops of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving 1 inch between each. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand, then make a small indent in the center of each cookie using your thumb. Fill each indent with 1/2 teaspoon cherry jam. Bake until golden brown and just set, 15 to 17 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

ALMOND CARAMEL THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with the paddle attachment-the one that looks like the peace sign-and beat until creamy and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks and almond extract and beat for another minute or so, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped almonds.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture. When combined, the dough should be soft and homogeneous. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm.
• When you're ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge and roll it into 3/4-inch balls. Place the balls about 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Using the tip of your thumb, make a hole as deep as you can in each doughball without actually poking through the bottom. Roll your thumb around a little bit to widen the hole-this is your thumbprint!
• Bake the cookies for 16 to 18 minutes or until they begin to turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool. While the cookies are cooling, repoke each one with your thumb to create a really nice spot for the caramel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the caramel: In a medium saute pan, combine the sugar, lemon juice, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. Be careful not to swish the pan around as that can cause the sugar to recrystallize. As the mixture boils, the water will evaporate and the sugar will begin to turn brown, or "caramelize." This is the point when you DO NOT want to take your eyes off it! Things can take a turn for the worse here and there will be no recovery. As the sugar begins to turn gold and move toward golden brown, remove it from the heat and add the heavy cream. As you do this it will bubble up like crazy. Be sure to use a pan large enough to accommodate the bubbling-this stuff is molten and can cause a very severe burn. Whisk the cream until things settle down and the bubbles subside, then add the butter 2 pats at a time, making sure each addition is thoroughly incorporated before adding more.
• Let the caramel cool slightly, then spoon it into the hole of each cookie and let cool. You'll most likely have leftover caramel sauce, so save it for something yummy-like pouring over vanilla ice cream!

RASPBERRY-ALMOND THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and extract until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add flour and mix well. Chill for 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each; fill each with 1/4 teaspoon jam. Bake until the edges are lightly browned, 13-16 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For glaze, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, extract and water. Drizzle over cookies.

ALMOND THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse almonds, sugar, matzo cake meal, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. (Be careful not to grind to a paste.) Transfer to a bowl and stir in butter, egg, and extracts until combined well. Chill dough, covered, until firm, about 30 minutes.
• While dough chills, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Drop level tablespoons of dough 1 inch apart onto 2 ungreased baking sheets. Roll dough into balls, then chill until slightly firm, about 10 minutes. Make a 1/2-inch-wide (1/3-inch-deep) indentation in center of each ball using your thumb, index finger, or the rounded end of a wooden spoon. Fill each indentation with 1/4 teaspoon jam and bake, 1 sheet at a time, until tops are pale golden and undersides are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack and cool completely.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Place a heatproof medium bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water; don't let the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Drop in the chunks of butter and scatter over the chocolate. Heat, stirring now and then, until the butter and chocolate are melted, but not so hot that they separate, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and whisk in the sugar. (Don't be alarmed when the mixture turns grainy.) One by one, add the cold eggs, whisking vigorously until the mixture is thick and smooth, and the whisk leaves tracks. Beat in the vanilla, then switch to a spatula and add the flour in 3 additions, stirring gently between each addition, until the flour disappears into the dough. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.
• When you're ready to bake, center a rack in the oven and heat it to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Put the sanding or granulated sugar in a small bowl and, if you've got one, have a cork from a wine bottle at hand.
• Using a small cookie scoop or measuring spoon, scoop mounds of dough, each a scant tablespoon. Roll the dough into balls and then roll the balls in the sugar to coat. Place the balls on the baking sheets, giving them 1½ inches or so of space to spread. Press the cork into the center of each cookie or use your thumb to make an indentation.
• Bake 1 sheet for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies feel firmish. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack. The indentations will have puffed in the oven, so you'll want to press them down again. Repeat with the second sheet. Let cookies cool completely.
• Fill the prints: Melt milk, dark or ruby chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. If using white chocolate, add oil before melting and stir until smooth. While the chocolate is still warm and fluid, use a small spoon to fill each indentation to the brim, letting the chocolate fall from the end of the spoon. Slide the cookies into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate. The cookies will keep for about 5 days in a covered container at room temperature.