Sesame Crusted Jam Thumbprints Small Batch Recipes

THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it's ready.
• Add the egg yolks one at a time and mix until well combined after each.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
• Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough is just well combined. Do not over mix.
• Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then roll in additional sugar (if using), then set the balls on the baking sheet.
• Use the end of a spatula, your thumb or the bottom of a measuring spoon to press the centers of the cookies down. Do this immediately after rolling them to help prevent the cookies from cracking.
• Fill the centers with jam. I used roughly 1/2 teaspoon per cookie.
• Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes or until the edges JUST begin to brown. You don't want to overbake them and have dry cookies.
• Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to finishing cooling.

SESAME-CRUSTED JAM THUMBPRINTS (SMALL BATCH)

Steps:

• In a bowl combine flour, sugar, salt and butter. Knead into a smooth dough. If it is too crumbly, add a little milk or water (just enough to make it workable). If it is too wet, add enough flour to make dough workable.
• Put the sesame seeds onto a plate or platter.
• Take off walnut-sized dough nuggets and roll them into balls. Flatten them slightly pressing them into the sesame seeds.
• Transfer cookies to a paper-lined baking sheet and make an indentation in the middle of each cookie using your fingers or the handle of a spoon. Fill this with jam/nutella/nut butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven at 190°C/375°F for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are slightly golden.
• Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.