Red Velvet Peppermint White Chocolate Thumbprints Food

RED VELVET THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, shortening and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and food coloring and beat until smooth and the color is fully incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls and arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and set, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then make an indentation in each cookie using the back of a small measuring spoon. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the filling: Microwave the white chocolate and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Beat the cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the white chocolate mixture, vanilla and salt and beat until smooth. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe into the indentations in the cookies. Sprinkle with red sanding sugar. Store in the refrigerator.

RED VELVET THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla and food coloring. In another bowl, whisk flour and cocoa; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Roll into 1-in. balls; roll in coarse sugar. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with the back of a 1/2-teaspoon measure., Bake 10 minutes. Meanwhile, for filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg white, vanilla and salt until blended. Reshape indentations in par-baked cookies as needed. Fill each with 1 teaspoon filling. Bake until filling is set, 10-12 minutes longer. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

RED VELVET THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
• In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 2 minutes or until creamy. Stir in egg, food coloring and vanilla until well blended. On low speed, beat in flour, cocoa and salt until blended.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. On cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Press thumb into center of each cookie to make indentation, but do not press all the way to the cookie sheet.
• Bake 12 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes; quickly remake indentations with end of wooden spoon, if necessary. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave white baking chips uncovered on High 30 to 50 seconds, stirring once, until softened and chips can be stirred smooth. Spoon melted chips into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off tiny corner of bag. Twist bag above melted chips. Squeeze bag to fill each thumbprint cookie. Let stand until set.