Italian Thumbprint Cookies

Submitted by michelerx

"My mom used to make these and fill them with grape or strawberry jelly. Now, I make them for the Christmas cookie trays with a red or green maraschino cherry or a Hershey's kiss pressed into the thumbprint."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup margarine, softened
• 2 egg yolks
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups flour
• 2 egg whites
• 1 -2 cup chopped walnuts

• Filling Suggestions

• any flavor jam
• maraschino cherry
• Hershey chocolate kiss

directions

1. Cream together margarine and sugar.
2. Add salt, lightly beaten egg yolks, vanilla, and almond extract, and mix thoroughly.
3. Gradually add flour and stir until well blended.
4. Roll dough into one inch balls.
5. Beat egg whites until frothy.
6. Dip dough balls into egg whites and roll in chopped nuts.
7. Place on cookie sheet about two inches apart and press a deep thrumbprint into each center.
8. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes.
9. While cookies are still warm, fill thumbprints with jelly or press a maraschino cherry or Hershey's kiss into the thumbprint.

Reviews

[nancyal]

i made these for the cookie tray for my niece's wedding. they are delicious. i used butter instead of margarine. i am allergic to walnuts, so i used hazelnuts for half of them and the other half i rolled in coconut. wonderful! i also did some in crushed macadamia nuts-to die for.