Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies: Lemon Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies have a refreshing, bright flavor that’s a nice change from the usual decadent cookies at Christmas time. This was my first attempt at thumbprint cookies and I’d say they came out pretty darn good!

Lemon Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 C all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 C butter, at room temperature
2/3 C sugar
2 large egg yolks
zest of 1 large lemon
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 t pure vanilla extract
1/2 C raspberry jam or jelly (I prefer seedless)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line with Silpats.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to blend.

Place butter and sugar in the large bowl of an electric mixer, and beat until light and creamy. Add egg yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat to combine. Add the flour mixture in two parts, beating between additions, until moist clumps form. Gather dough into a ball.

Pinch off about a tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball. Place about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Using a floured thumb, make a shallow indentation in the center of each ball. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

While the cookies bake, measure jam into a small, heatproof bowl and microwave in 10 second intervals until stirrable and smooth.

After 10 minutes, remove half-baked cookies from oven. Working quickly, reshape the center indentations using the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon. Dollop 1/2 teaspoon of jam into the center of each cookie. Return cookies to the oven to bake another 10 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Remove cookies from oven and transfer to racks to cool completely.

Serve as is, or dust with powdered sugar for a fancier look. (To remove the powdered sugar from the center, dip your finger in warm water and gently trace around the center. The sugar should dissolve, disappearing.) Makes approximately 3-4 dozen cookies.

Source: Adapted from Emeril Lagasse via Food Network