Passover Almond Thumbprint Cookies

blucoat's Note:

These delicate little almond cookies, from "Gourmet" (April 2006), are really delicious. They don't taste like Passover cookies and are good enough to eat year-round. The contrast between the crisp cookie and gooey-sweet jam is pretty addictive; you may want to double the recipe. You can substitute a whole almond for the jam, if you prefer. If you like marzipan, you'll love these! And they are quick to whip up. Dough requires 1/2 hour to chill.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 24 cookies

• ¾ cup sliced blanched almond , toasted and cooled
• 2⁄3; cup sugar
• 2⁄3; cup matzo cake meal
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly (1 stick)
• 1 large egg , lightly beaten
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons fruit jam , such as raspberry, strawberry, or apricot

Directions:

1. Pulse almonds, sugar, matzo cake meal, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. (Be careful not to grind to a paste.) Transfer to a bowl and stir in butter, egg, and extracts until combined well. Chill dough, covered, until firm, about 30 minutes.
2. While dough chills, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Drop level tablespoons of dough 1 inch apart onto 2 ungreased baking sheets. Roll dough into balls, then chill until slightly firm, about 10 minutes. Make a 1/2-inch-wide (1/3-inch-deep) indentation in center of each ball using your thumb, index finger, or the rounded end of a wooden spoon. Fill each indentation with 1/4 teaspoon jam and bake, 1 sheet at a time, until tops are pale golden and undersides are golden, 14 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack and cool completely.