Les Madeleines Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix butter and powdered sugar together with a rubber spatula until creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and egg yolk. Mix with the spatula. Add flour and blend until just combined.
• Use a sorbet scoop to portion dough into 1/2-ounce (1-tablespoon) balls. Roll balls in a plate of white sugar to coat; roll again between your palms. Place several inches apart on a silicone-lined baking sheet. Flatten balls lightly with your fingers.
• To make shortbread cookies with a little jam, poke a well into each cookie using the end of a thick wooden spoon dusted with powdered sugar or using one of your fingers. Fill cookies with fruit jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter to let jam settle.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops are barely blonde and bottoms are slightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before icing.
• Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar with a little milk until you have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. Pipe icing on top of cookies in a zigzag pattern. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
• For a more jam-forward cookie, press your thumb into the cookies to make large, shallow indentations. Spoon in jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter.
• Bake until not quite golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let rest on pan for 5 minutes before transferring a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

LAMINGTON THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together butter, condensed milk, vanilla, salt, and baking powder until thoroughly combined. Add flour, stirring with a spoon until a dough forms. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to handle but still tacky and not too stiff, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. With dampened hands (to prevent sticking), roll level tablespoons of dough into balls. Toss in coconut, pressing gently to adhere. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 1 inch apart. Press each center with a thumb or finger to create a deep indentation.
• Bake until cookies are just set and golden on bottoms but still soft, about 10 minutes. Press down centers again, if needed. Let cool completely on sheet. Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a double boiler, or in a microwave on low. Dip bottoms of cookies in chocolate and return to parchment-lined sheet, bottom-sides down.
• Bring marmalade to a boil in a small saucepan; strain. While still warm, spoon about 3/4 teaspoon into center of each cookie. Refrigerate until chocolate and marmalade are set, at least 30 minutes. Set cookies can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.