Festive Pecan Thumbprint Cookies Food

PECAN THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in egg white, then in pecans. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each ball. Cover and freeze until firm. Transfer cookie dough balls to a large resealable plastic freezer bag. May be frozen for up to 3 months., To use frozen cookie dough: Place dough balls 2 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 17-20 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks. While warm, fill each with a teaspoonful of preserves. Cool completely.

PECAN FILLED COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Make a depression in the center using the cap from the vanilla or the end of a wooden spoon. Mix together the pecans, sour cream and 1/4 cup brown sugar; fill each depression with the mixture.
• Bake for 8 to 11 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

FESTIVE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Place sprinkles in a shallow bowl or bowls., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; dip tops in sprinkles. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with your thumb. Bake until edges are light brown, 10-12 minutes. Using a wooden spoon handle, enlarge any indentations that may have narrowed or closed. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For filling, bring sugar, butter and milk to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add candy coating and vanilla; stir until smooth. Divide filling between 2 bowls. Using food coloring, tint filling in one bowl red and in the other bowl green. Spoon fillings into indentations; let stand until set.,

THUMBPRINTS WITH DULCE DE LECHE, NUTELLA OR JAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the hazelnuts or pecans out on a small baking sheet and cook in oven, shaking several times, until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. If using hazelnuts, transfer to a bowl to cool, cover with a folded dish towel, then rub off the skins. (No need to toast the pistachios.)
• Once cooled, transfer the nuts to a food processor, preferably a mini one. Add 2 teaspoons flour and pulse just until nuts are finely ground, being careful not to overprocess.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping bowl as needed. Add egg yolks and vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl a few times as needed.
• Add 1/2 cup ground nuts, the salt and the remaining 2 1/4 cups flour; beat on low speed just until combined, then increase speed and beat until dough starts to clump together. Scrape the bowl and fold a few times to make sure everything is well mixed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, flatten into a disk, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pinch off small pieces of dough the size of a rounded tablespoon (about 20 grams each) and roll the top half of each one in the remaining ground nuts. Place a few inches apart on parchment- or silicone mat-lined baking sheets. Chill in the freezer until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven and make a thumbprint in each cookie. Bake until golden brown on the bottom, and nuts are looking toasty but not burned, 6 to 8 minutes longer. Let cool a few minutes on the baking sheets and transfer to wire racks to cool further. While the cookies are still a little warm, fill each one with about 1/2 teaspoon of filling, and cool completely. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

PECAN THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Combine all ingredients.
• Drop spoonfuls of dough onto greased cookie sheet.
• Place thumb print into each ball to make an indent for icing being sure not to go all the way through dough.
• Bake 300 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Place cookies on wax paper and prepare icing. Icing should be a thick paste. If icing is too thin add more confectioners sugar; if too thick add more water.
• Fill the indents in each cookie with icing. Icing will harden.
• Enjoy!

FESTIVE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C.) Line a baking tray with parchment paper; set aside.
• In a food processor pulse the pecan pieces until finely chopped. Transfer to a small shallow bowl; set aside. Lightly beat the egg white until frothy in a separate small shallow bowl; set aside.
• In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt several times to combine. Add butter, egg yolk, and vanilla; blend until smooth dough forms, scraping down the sides several times.
• Shape dough into 1 Tbsp (15 mL) sized balls. Roll in egg white then chopped pecans. Place 2" (5 cm) apart on prepared baking tray. Bake in centre of preheated oven for 5-6 minutes.
• Remove cookies from oven; cool 1 minute. Using thumb or the back of a wooden spoon, indent the top of each cookie. Spoon a heaped ½ tsp (2 mL) preserves into each indent. Bake 16-18 minutes longer or until cookies are set. Cool completely on the tray before serving.
• Store cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°.
• Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla.
• Work in flour and salt until dough holds together.
• Shape dough by teaspoonfuls into 1-inch balls.
• Beat egg white slightly.
• Dip each dough ball into egg white; roll in nuts.
• Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet; press thumb deeply in center of each.
• Bake about 10 minutes or until light brown.
• Immediately remove from baking sheet.
• Cool; fill thumbprint with jelly.
• *Ifusing self-rising flour, omit salt.
• Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: Substitute ½ cup granulated sugar for ¼ cup brown sugar; add 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate (cool) with the vanilla.

DOUBLE PECAN THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly toast pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until slightly darkened in color and fragrant, 6-8 minutes. Let cool; set 1 1/4 cups pecans aside for making the dough.
• Pulse granulated sugar and remaining 3/4 cup pecans in a food processor until nuts are very finely ground (be careful to stop before they become a paste), 30-60 seconds. Add egg white and pulse just to blend, then add butter, espresso powder, salt, and almond extract. Pulse just until mixture is smooth and combined. Scrape frangipane into a small bowl and chill at least 30 minutes before using.
• Pulse flour, salt, baking powder, and 1 cup reserved pecans in clean food processor until nuts are very finely ground, about 1 minute.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla and beat until combined and no streaks remain. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated, about 1 minute. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill dough until it's firm enough that you can scoop it and it will hold its shape, 30-45 minutes.
• Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Working in batches, scoop out tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls between your hands, then roll in powdered sugar, knocking off any excess. Transfer to 2 parchment-lined baking sheets as you work, spacing 2" apart.
• Bake cookies until puffed but edges are still soft, 6-8 minutes. Carefully remove from oven and make an indent in the center of each cookie with the handle end of a wooden spoon or a similar heatproof object. Spoon a heaping 1/2-teaspoonful of frangipane into each and top with a pecan half from remaining reserved 1/4 cup. Return cookies to oven and continue to bake until edges are set and very lightly browned, 6-8 minutes longer. Let cool on baking sheets.
• Just before serving, dust cookies with more powdered sugar if desired.
• Do Ahead
• Frangipane can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled. You will have more than you need, but try slathering leftovers on toasted brioche and baking until lightly browned (sort of like an almond croissant). We guarantee you won't be upset about it. Cookies can be baked 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.