Dad's Cookies (Hazelnut Thumbprints)

Tiny, delicious cookies, filled with jelly. I remember making these ever since I was a little kid.. And always for Christmas. Started them around November, and kept making fresh batches until the end of December.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 2
• Yields: 50 cookies

Ingredients

• 14  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  egg yolks
• 1 1⁄3 cups flour
• 1⁄2 cup ground hazelnuts
• 1⁄2 cup powdered sugar
• 2⁄3 cup  raspberry jelly
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and salt.
2. Slowly add flour and ground hazelnuts. Knead well by hand.
3. Wrap dough in aluminum foil, and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
5. Roll dough into long, snake-like shape. About 1 inch in diameter.
6. Cut into even pieces (about 1/4 inch thick). Form small balls.
7. Indent top with pinky or similar sized tool, until you have enough room for the jam. Keep in mind that baking reduces the size of the hole.
8. Place on baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.
9. Remove when done, and let cool.
10. Melt jelly in microwave until fluid.
11. Shake powdered sugar over cookies, and fill holes with jelly.