Sesame Crusted Jam Thumbprints Small Batch Food

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until they are just combined and then add the vanilla. Separately, sift together the flour and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until the dough starts to come together. Dump on a floured board and roll together into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. (If you have a scale they should each weigh 1 ounce.) Dip each ball into the egg wash and then roll it in coconut. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet and press a light indentation into the top of each with your finger. Drop 1/4 teaspoon of jam into each indentation. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the coconut is a golden brown. Cool and serve.

BUTTER AND JAM THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
• In another bowl, whip the butter and the sugar with a hand-held mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing just until incorporated.
• Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls with a cookie or ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place about 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a thumbprint into the center of each ball, about 1/2-inch deep. Fill each indentation with about 3/4 teaspoon jam.
• Bake cookies until the edges are golden, about 15 minutes. (For even color, rotate the pans from top to bottom about halfway through baking.) Cool cookies on the baking sheets. Serve.
• Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it's ready.
• Add the egg yolks one at a time and mix until well combined after each.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
• Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough is just well combined. Do not over mix.
• Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then roll in additional sugar (if using), then set the balls on the baking sheet.
• Use the end of a spatula, your thumb or the bottom of a measuring spoon to press the centers of the cookies down. Do this immediately after rolling them to help prevent the cookies from cracking.
• Fill the centers with jam. I used roughly 1/2 teaspoon per cookie.
• Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes or until the edges JUST begin to brown. You don't want to overbake them and have dry cookies.
• Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to finishing cooling.

SESAME-CRUSTED JAM THUMBPRINTS (SMALL BATCH)

Steps:

• In a bowl combine flour, sugar, salt and butter. Knead into a smooth dough. If it is too crumbly, add a little milk or water (just enough to make it workable). If it is too wet, add enough flour to make dough workable.
• Put the sesame seeds onto a plate or platter.
• Take off walnut-sized dough nuggets and roll them into balls. Flatten them slightly pressing them into the sesame seeds.
• Transfer cookies to a paper-lined baking sheet and make an indentation in the middle of each cookie using your fingers or the handle of a spoon. Fill this with jam/nutella/nut butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven at 190°C/375°F for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are slightly golden.
• Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.