Spiced Hazelnut Thumbprints Recipes

HAZELNUT THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put butter and 1/2 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla, and mix well. Reduce speed to low. Add flour and salt, and mix until just combined. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.
• Stir together toasted hazelnuts and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; dip balls in egg white, then in hazelnut-sugar mixture. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Bake for 10 minutes.Remove from oven; press down centers again with the end of a wooden spoon. Return to oven. Bake cookies until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly on sheets on wire racks. Fill each center with jam.

HAZELNUT GANACHE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, hazelnut meal and a pinch of salt
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar together until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract; beat once more. In 2 additions, add the dry ingredient mixture, scraping down the bowl if needed, until completely combined. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Scoop scant tablespoonfuls of dough, roll into balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them a few inches apart. Make an indentation, a thumbprint, in the center of each ball of dough using your thumb and/or the help of your index finger. Bake until the bottoms are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately reinforce the thumbprints using the end of a wooden spoon. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheets.
• While the cookies are cooling, make the ganache. Place the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan set over medium-high flame and heat until the cream is scalding. Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and allow to stand for 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
• When the cookies are cool, add a scant teaspoon of chocolate ganache to each thumbprint. Top with a sprinkle of flaked sea salt. If transporting, allow the chocolate to set for 1 hour.

HOLIDAY PIE-SPICED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Mix together the sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet.
• Put the egg white in a large bowl and whisk until frothy. Add the hazelnuts and toss to coat in the egg white. Add the spice blend and toss to coat again.
• Spread the nut mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet, then transfer to a large bowl.

HAZELNUT JAM THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Put butter and 1/2 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla, and mix well. Reduce speed to low. Add flour and salt, and mix until just combined. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Stir together hazelnuts and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; dip balls in beaten egg white, then in hazelnut mixture. Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven; press down centers again with the lightly floured end of a wooden spoon. Return to oven. Bake cookies until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly on sheets on wire racks. Fill each center with jam. Cookies can be stored in a single layer in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, melted chocolate chips and Nutella until blended. Stir in cracker crumbs. Refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 30 minutes., Shape mixture into 1-in. balls; roll in chopped hazelnuts. Make an indentation in the center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Fill with a hazelnut. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Tip the hazelnuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the flours, sugar and a pinch of flaked sea salt, and process for 20-30 secs until fully combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture just starts to come together. Tip the dough out onto a work surface and knead by hand until smooth.
• Roll the dough into 25 small balls, then transfer to the prepared baking tray. Using your thumb or the handle of a wooden spoon, make an indent in the centre of each piece of dough. Put the tray in the fridge and chill for 30 mins before baking. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Bake in the oven for 15-20 mins or until light golden brown. Put the chocolate and oil in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until fully melted. Use a teaspoon to top each cookie with a little melted chocolate. Put aside until the chocolate has set.