Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Jill L. "Margaritta Lover"'s Note:

Soft and wonderful cookies. This is a recipe my mom gave me. The kids love them.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 27 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 dozen

• ½ cup butter
• 2⁄3; cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 1 beaten egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 slightly beaten egg white
• candied cherries or chocolate Hershey's chocolate kiss

For the vanilla filling mix the following

• ½ cup confectioners' sugar (may need to add a little more if frosting is too thin)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Cream butter, 2/3 cup of sugar, egg yolk, milk and vanilla in a small bowl.
2. In another bowl combine flour, cocoa, and salt and blend them into a cream mixture.
3. Chill dough about 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
4. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls.
5. Combine the chopped nuts and 2 tbsp of sugar in a small bowl.
6. Dip the balls in egg white then the nut mixture.
7. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
8. Press thumbprint gently in the center of each cookie.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
10. As soon as cookies come out of the oven place about 1/4 tsp of the vanilla filling in the print.
11. Gently place a halved cherry or chocolate kiss in the print.
12. Remove the cookies from the sheet and cool.