Citrus Thumbprints Recipes

CITRUS THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Combine flour, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, and salt. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and citrus zest and juice on medium until combined; increase speed to high and beat until pale and fluffy, 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture on low. Roll rounded tablespoons dough into balls; place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven; with small end of a melon baller or a small round measuring spoon, make indents in centers of cookies. Return to oven, rotating sheets, and bake until set and light golden at edges, 12 minutes more. Transfer cookies on parchment to wire racks; let cool 10 minutes. Gently toss in sifted sugar, then sift more sugar over tops. Fill centers with jam. To set jam, bake cookies on racks set on sheets (without parchment) 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool completely.

CITRUS-KISSED FIG THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, melted butter, lemon peel, orange peel, vanilla and egg until soft dough forms.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon preserves into each indentation.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

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.

CITRUS-KISSED FIG THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Mix cookie mix, flour, melted butter, lemon peel, orange peel, vanilla and egg in bowl until soft dough forms.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon preserves into each indentation.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.