Michelle Bakes: Holiday Goodness

We get a double helping of two delicious holiday cookie recipes in this week’s Michelle Bakes. She shares how to make one of her favorites, and why holiday baking can bring the family closer together.

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies by

Cookie

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam

Icing

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1–2 Tablespoons cream or milk
• optional: 1 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract

Directions

1. This cookie dough requires at least 4 hours for chilling and cookies must cool before glazing. Don’t forget to plan ahead!
2. Make the cookies: Using a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Switch mixer to medium speed and add the the sugar, vanilla, and almond extracts. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed. Turn the mixer off and pour the flour into the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly beat until a very soft dough is formed.  Press the dough down to compact it and tightly cover with plastic wrap to chill until firm, at least 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats (silicone mats preferred to reduce spreading). Shape the cookie dough into balls. Mine were about 1 Tablespoon of dough per ball. Make sure they’re nice and smooth. If you find that the balls of dough are sticky and/or have gotten a little soft after rolling- place the balls of dough back into the refrigerator to firm up. You absolutely DO NOT want soft dough.* Make an indentation with your thumb into each ball. The dough may crack slightly when you press your thumb into it. Simply smooth it out with your fingers if you can. Otherwise, it’s perfectly fine to have a few cracks. Fill each with a scant 1/2 teaspoon of jam. (Or however much it can hold.)
4. Bake the shortbread thumbprint cookies for 14-15 minutes, or until very lightly browned on the edges. The cookies will puff up and spread slightly. Do not overbake.  In fact, I only baked mine for 13-14 minutes. I prefer them a little soft. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Allow cooling for at least 30 minutes before glazing.
5. Make the glaze: Whisk the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Add more liquid to thin out or add more confectioners’ sugar to thicken to your desired consistency. Drizzle over cooled cookies. Glaze will set within a couple hours.

Buckeyes by

Ingredients

• 5-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1-2/3 cups peanut butter
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon shortening

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, peanut butter, and butter until smooth. Shape into 1-in. balls; set aside.
2. Microwave chocolate chips and shortening on high until melted; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place on a wire rack over waxed paper; refrigerate for 15 minutes or until firm. Cover and store in the refrigerator.