Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are totally awesome and you can get creative with them by putting whatever you want into the thumbprint.  They are also the perfect cookie for kids to help with because kid-sized thumbs make the perfect sized indentation :)

Both my girls love to help me make them and we usually fill them with strawberry jelly and roll them in sweetened coconut flakes.  But they also can be filled with chocolate chips, m&m's, mini peanut butter cups, candied pecans and apricot jelly and any other sweet bit of deliciousness that is the size of a thumbprint.

Baking is really relaxing for me (especially when I have wine to go along with it) and it is great mother-daughter together time.  I love making cookies with my kids every Christmas!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 sticks of unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg white beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
• Sweetened flaked coconut
• Strawberry jelly or jam
• Optional - powdered sugar for sprinkling over when they are finished

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  
  

  With an electric beater cream together the butter and sugar until they are combined and then add vanilla. Sift together the flour and salt in a separate bowl. 

  
  

  Add dry ingredients to butter and sugar mixture a little at a time and mix until dough starts to come together. Form dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• 
  
  Roll the dough into balls - about 1 1/2 tablespoons in size. Dip each ball into the egg wash and then roll it in coconut. Place the balls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (you can grease it with a thin layer of butter or cooking spray) and with your thumb press a hole about 1/2 way down into the top of each ball.  Spoon jam into each indentation. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the coconut is a golden brown. Cool thoroughly before serving.

Enjoy with a glass of organic milk ;)

These are what we made today - thumbprint cookies, my awesome chocolate chip cookies Freaking Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies and lemon-glazed ricotta cookies.  My girls and I had the best time making them and taste-testing them!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!