Truffle Filled Orange Thumbprint Cookies Food

TRUFFLE-FILLED ORANGE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray or lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets.
• In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup sugar, the egg yolks, vanilla and orange peel until light and fluffy. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt until well blended. On low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture.
• Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Measure 2 tablespoons sugar into small bowl. Dip top of each ball into sugar. On cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Make large indentation in center of each cookie with thumb or end of wooden spoon or thumb.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until set. If necessary, make another indentation in center of each cookie with thumb or end of wooden spoon or thumb. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, cream and 1 tablespoon butter uncovered on High 40 seconds; stir. Continue heating and stirring 15 seconds at a time until smooth. Stir in corn syrup. Spoon generous 1/2 teaspoon filling into indentation of each cookie. Top each cookie with piece of sugared orange peel.

RASPBERRY-ORANGE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy; add granulated sugar, beating until blended. Add egg, orange peel and vanilla; beat until blended. On low speed, beat in flour and salt until blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. On cookie sheet, 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 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Quickly remake indentations with end of wooden spoon, if necessary. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Fill each thumbprint with about 1/4 measuring teaspoon of jam.

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.