Vanilla Thumbprints 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:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Place sprinkles in a shallow bowl or bowls., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; dip tops in sprinkles. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with your thumb. Bake until edges are light brown, 10-12 minutes. Using a wooden spoon handle, enlarge any indentations that may have narrowed or closed. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For filling, bring sugar, butter and milk to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add candy coating and vanilla; stir until smooth. Divide filling between 2 bowls. Using food coloring, tint filling in one bowl red and in the other bowl green. Spoon fillings into indentations; let stand until set.,

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine butter and sugar in bowl of an electric mixer.
• Cream using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy.
• Add egg and vanilla, scraping the bowl as needed.
• Add the flour and mix just until incorporated (dough will be soft).
• Roll 2 teaspoons of dough between your hands into a 1-inch ball.
• Repeat, spacing 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• With a floured thumb (or dip thumb in water), make an indentation in the center of each ball of dough.
• Fill each indentation with 1/2 teaspoon raspberry or apricot jam.
• Bake at 350 degrees F about 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown around bottoms.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and mix well. Mix in the flour then knead in the finely chopped walnuts. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll chilled dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a thumbprint in the middle of each cookie.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes.
• In a small pan over medium heat melt the caramels and the light cream together. Stir until smooth. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon o the caramel into the thumbprint of each warm cookie then top with a chocolate kiss.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, milk and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Let stand for 5 minutes to thicken if desired. Spoon over bread.