Postcard Cookies Recipes

STAMPED COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Using stand mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla extract.
• Add flour in two batches, mixing just until combined.
• Divide dough into two, then shape each half into a ball. Flatten each ball into a disk about 1-inch thick, then cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Place cookie stamps in refrigerator, too.
• Once dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Add granulated sugar to a small bowl.
• Roll a piece of dough into a golf ball-sized ball, then roll in granulated sugar. Place on baking sheet.
• Dip cookie stamp into sugar, then press ball until dough reaches edges of stamp. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Once you have filled a baking sheet, freeze cookies for 10 minutes.
• Bake chilled cookies until golden brown on bottom, about 9 to 10 minutes.
• Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a baking rack to cool completely before decorating. Enjoy!
• Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add just enough milk to make a thin glaze (should be fairly runny).
• Dip cooled cookies in glaze, then brush off excess. Or brush glaze on cookies using a decorating brush. Place cookies on a parchment lined tray until glaze is set.

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.