Thumbprints Three Ways

I received a jar of love, Fig Grand Marnier Jam earlier in the week from my dear friend, Gina, and cookies Now, I could have just eaten the yummy on jam on bagels, English muffins, or toast, but I wanted to showcase the wonderful jam in some way.

These are the cookies that I got from Gina, delivered on Sunday thru the mail! I already ate part of  Toffee and Chocolate Crisps, Yum! Thank you Gina for the jam and  all of the cookie love, which brightened up Scott's and my holiday:))) You are the Cookie Queen!

I decided to make Thumbprints,  but wasn't sure that I would have enough jam for a whole batch of cookies.Then, I remembered a delightful cookie recipe from my BFF Barb, Chocolate Butter Sweets, which was a family recipe. I hadn't made this recipe in forever, either. Chocolate Butter Sweets are basically a thumbprint cookie filled with a coconut, cream cheese, and walnut filling, topped with a rich, chocolate frosting. They taste like an Almond Joy, yum!  The second way was that  I rolled the Thumbprint balls in egg white and finely chopped walnuts. Once baked and cooled I filled with the delicious jam. The third way I made the thumbprints was to fill with the chocolate frosting and top with my favorite candy, M&M's. There, you have three totally different looking and tasting cookies from one base cookie recipe, a great idea when you are pressed for time.  Santa will love these!

 

Here are the jam filled Thumbprints, so good!

 These are the Chocolate Butter Sweets, and the MM topped Thumbprints

Thumbprint Cookie Recipe 

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book

1 1/2 c all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 c butter softened

1/3 c sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla

2 slightly beaten egg whites

3/4 c finely chopped walnuts

In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Bet in egg yolks and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill for about 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease cookie sheets. Shape dough into 1″ balls. Roll balls in egg whites, and then the finely chopped walnuts, if desired Using your thumb, make an indentation in each dough ball.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. If cookie centers puff during baking, re-press centers with the rounded side of a measuring teaspoon. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely. Just before serving, fill centers with your choice.

Chocolate Butter Sweets Filling

3 oz. cream cheese

1 c. powdered sugar

2 tbsp. flour 

1/2c. chopped walnuts 

1/2 c. flaked coconut
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla. Stir in walnuts and coconut. Fill cookies while warm.

FROSTING:

1/2 c. chocolate chips

2 tbsp. water 

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar

Melt chocolate in water and butter. Remove from heat. Add sugar. Beat until smooth. Frost cooled cookies with about 1 teaspoon frosting on each cookie over filling. Refrigerate until serving time.

M&M Thumbprints

Fill centers of Thumbprints with Chocolate frosting recipe, and top with M&M's.

Jam Filled Thumbprints

Fill centers of thumbprints with your favorite jam, and refrigerate until serving.