Bake Sale Thumbprints Recipes

BAKE AND SLICE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer). Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
• Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and flatten into a disk. Divide into 4 equal portions. Roll each portion into a cylinder about 10 inches long and 1-inch wide. Transfer the cylinders to the prepared baking sheets. Lightly press the tops of the cylinders with your fingers to flatten.
• Press the handle of wooden spoon with a 1/2-inch thick handle into the center of each cylinder to create a long trough about 1/2-inch deep, leaving a small border all around. (The cylinders will spread to about 1 1/2 inches wide.) (See Cook's Note.)
• Put the raspberry jam in a small piping bag and pipe it into the indentations of 2 of the cylinders. Repeat with the apricot jam and the remaining 2 cylinders.
• Bake until the edges of the cylinders are golden, 22 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom halfway through. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks to cool, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully transfer each cylinder to a cutting board and cut them on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces. Transfer the cookies to the wire rack and cool completely.

COFFEE AND MILK THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Make the milk jam: Whisk the milk and granulated sugar in a large microwave-safe bowl until dissolved. (The bowl should be at least 3 quarts to prevent the milk from overflowing.) Microwave 10 minutes, then stop and whisk. Microwave 10 more minutes, whisking halfway through. The mixture should be thick, bubbling and dark ivory in color. If it is still loose, continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals until thickened. Whisk in the vanilla until smooth. You should have about 1/2 cup; the mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and ground coffee in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture in two batches until just combined.
• Roll heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. (If the dough is too soft to roll, refrigerate about 20 minutes.) Dip the tops of the dough balls in the turbinado sugar, then make a 1/2-inch indentation in the center of each with the handle of a wooden spoon. Place on a large plate and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚ F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the pans. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set around the edges (but not browned) and the centers are still soft, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and re-indent the center of each cookie with a 1/2-teaspoon measuring spoon. Fill each indentation with 1/2 teaspoon of the milk jam. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

SALTED CARAMEL-PRETZEL THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Put 1/4 cup pretzels in a resealable plastic bag and crush into coarse crumbs with a rolling pin.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks, honey, vanilla and fine salt in a medium bowl, then add to the butter mixture and beat until incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour and pretzel crumbs and beat until just combined.
• Put the remaining 1 1/4 cups pretzels in the resealable bag and roughly crush with the rolling pin; spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough on top and roll into balls, pressing so the pretzels adhere. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets; make a deep indentation in each with your thumb. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until lightly golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Re-indent with the back of a teaspoon, if necessary. Let cool 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Fill each indentation with dulce de leche and sprinkle with sea salt.

BROWN BUTTER THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Melt the butter in a small skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pan, until brown flecks appear and the butter smells nutty, about 7 minutes. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Freeze, stirring occasionally, until the butter is spreadable, 35 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the browned butter and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until the dough comes together.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Arrange about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to indent the centers, pinching together any large cracks (a few small cracks are fine). Refrigerate until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Fill each indentation with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon jam. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set and lightly browned on the bottom, 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.

THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Beat the butter, granulated sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add half of the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Knead a few times by hand to bring the dough together.
• Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place about 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Make an indentation in the center of each ball with a small measuring spoon or the back of a pen. Fill each indentation with jam (a scant 1/8 teaspoon).
• Bake until the edges of the cookies are golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

FESTIVE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Place sprinkles in a shallow bowl or bowls., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; dip tops in sprinkles. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with your thumb. Bake until edges are light brown, 10-12 minutes. Using a wooden spoon handle, enlarge any indentations that may have narrowed or closed. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For filling, bring sugar, butter and milk to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add candy coating and vanilla; stir until smooth. Divide filling between 2 bowls. Using food coloring, tint filling in one bowl red and in the other bowl green. Spoon fillings into indentations; let stand until set.,

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.