Old Fashioned Thumbprint Cookies
This classic recipe comes straight from Grandma's recipe collection. The lightly sweet cookies look extra festive with the colored icing!
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 egg whites, beaten
- ¾ cup very finely chopped pecans
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 2–3 drops food coloring (I used red and green)
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cream together the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add the egg yolk and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour and salt. The dough will be crumbly at first but will hold together as you continue to mix.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Roll each ball into the beaten egg whites, then into the chopped pecans. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and quickly press your thumb gently on top of each cookie to create an indentation. Return to the oven for 8 minutes longer.
- Cool completely.
- In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and milk. Tint with food coloring to your desired shade.
- Spoon a teaspoon or two of icing into the indentation of each cookie. Allow to harden, then serve or store for later.
Notes
Storage info: store at room temperature or in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks. Serve at room temperature. Freeze cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
I used regular liquid food coloring (McCormick) for tinting the icing. I used two drops of red and two drops of green. You can use gel food coloring if you'd like a more vibrant hue.
Instead of icing, you can fill the indentation with candied fruit, Nutella, jam, hot fudge, or caramel sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 30mgPotassium: 30mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.4mg
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