Thumbprintcookiessavorycheddar Recipes

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.

Steps:

• In food processor, pulse together Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and butter until smooth.
• Add egg yolk and pepper; pulse until blended.
• Add flour; pulse just until soft dough forms.
• Place pecans on plate.
• Place 1 cup water in bowl.
• With hands, roll scant tablespoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls.
• Wet balls with water; roll in nuts to coat pressing nuts lightly into dough ball.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet.
• With thumb or finger, make indentation in center of each.
• Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Bake in center of 350°F oven for about 15 minutes or until firm outside and lightly golden.
• Let cool on baking sheet.
• (Can be prepared to this point and frozen in layers separated by waxed paper in rigid airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Bake in 350°F oven for about 3 minutes to recrisp).
• Fill indentations with hot pepper jelly.

Steps:

• Let butter soften in a mixing bowl-add sugar and almond extract. Cream thoroughly.
• Add yolk and beat well.
• Add flour and blend (add a bit more if necessary, dough shouldn't be sticky).
• Shape into 1 inch balls.
• Roll balls in egg white and into chopped pecans. Place on a cookie sheet.
• Press thumb into each ball-making a wide imprint in each cookie.
• Fill imprints with jam.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes. Makes 2 dozen small or 1 dozen large cookies.