Dried Fruit Thumbprints Recipes

COCOA THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, the cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and eggs and stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Place the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in 2 separate small bowls. Roll scant tablespoonfuls of dough into balls; roll in the granulated sugar and then in the confectioners' sugar. Place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Lightly flatten each ball with your fingers and make a deep 1/2-inch-wide indentation in the centers with your thumb. Place your choice of filling in the indentation. Bake the cookies until puffed and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes. Let cool 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

THUMBPRINTS AND BALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Roll dough into 1-inch balls. (For marbleized cookies, roll out a 1/2-inch-thick rope each of vanilla and chocolate dough. Pinch 3/4-inch piece from each rope and roll together into a ball.) Roll in finely chopped nuts, crushed candies, or sanding sugar, if using. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each 1 inch apart.
• For thumbprints: Press a well into the center of each using your finger. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, and press well again with handle end of a wooden spoon. Bake until firm, 7 to 9 minutes more.For ball cookies: Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees until firm, 14 to 16 minutes.
• Let cool completely. Spoon jam, ganache, dried fruit, or candied orange filling into thumbprints. For chocolate-dipped ball cookies, dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate; sprinkle with candies, and let set in refrigerator.

DRIED-FRUIT THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• To marbleize dough, roll out a 1/2-inch-thick rope of Chocolate Dough. Roll out a 1/2-inch-thick rope of Vanilla Dough. Pinch off a 3/4-inch piece from each rope. Roll together into 1 ball. Arrange balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each 1 inch apart.
• Press a well into the center of each using your finger. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, and press well again with handle end of a wooden spoon. Bake until firm, 7 to 9 minutes more.
• Let cool completely. Spoon dried fruit mixed with fruit jam into thumbprints.

PINEAPPLE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, brown sugar and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, then the lemon juice. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low; mix in the dried pineapple, then the flour mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the crushed pineapple, cream cheese, the remaining 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, the vanilla and lemon zest in a bowl with a rubber spatula, breaking up any large pineapple pieces. Refrigerate until slightly firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Indent each with the back of a floured 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon; brush with milk.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are slightly puffed, 10 to12 minutes. Remove from the oven andre-indent; spoon in the filling. Return to the oven until lightly browned, 6 to 8 more minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Top with dried pineapple.