Soft Jam Thumbprint Cookies 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.

SOFT JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
• Add flour and salt and mix until incorporated and dough comes together in a ball. If desired, chill for 30 minutes.
• Form dough into 1-inch balls (make sure they're perfectly round), and arrange on prepared cookie sheet. Use a 1/2 tsp. measure to create perfectly circular craters in the center.
• Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove cookie sheet from oven. If indentations look shallow, further define them again, and fill each with a bit of jam.
• Bake for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until jam melts slightly and edges of cookies are lightly golden.

JAM FILLED BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and egg yolks. Mix in flour a little bit at a time until a soft dough forms. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. If dough is too soft, refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Place balls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Use your finger or an instrument of similar size to make a well in the center of each cookie. Fill the hole with 1/2 teaspoon of preserves.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.