Frosted Bonbons Cookie Exchange Quantity Recipes

BON BON COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla and food coloring. Work in flour and salt until dough holds together. (If dough is dry, mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk).
• For each cookie, shape dough by tablespoonful around date, nut, chocolate chips or cherry to form ball. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set but not brown, 12 to 15 minutes; cool.
• Dip tops of cookies into glaze. Decorate with coconut, nuts, colored sugar, chocolate chips or chocolate shot, if desired.
• Glaze: beat 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and of desired consistency. Tint parts of glaze with different food colors if desired.
• Chocolate glaze: beat 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate (cool) and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and of desired consistency.
• Chocolate bonbon cookies: omit food color. Stir 1 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate (cool) into margarine mixture.

ESPRESSO THUMBPRINT COOKIES (COOKIE EXCHANGE QUANTITY)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, butter, cocoa, 1 tablespoon dry espresso, the vanilla and egg yolks with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until creamy. Stir in flour and salt.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb into center of each cookie to make indentation, but do not press all the way to the cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm. Quickly remake indentations with end of wooden spoon if necessary. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream and 2 tablespoons dry espresso over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and espresso is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Stir in liqueur. Cool until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon rounded 1/2 teaspoon filling into indentation in each cookie. Top each cookie with 1/4 teaspoon crushed candies.