Thumbprint Cookies

Part of our tradition at Christmas is to have thumbprint cookies. I made these with my sisters and my mom every year, and no Christmas is complete without them! Our version uses candied cherries instead of jam, which is actually a little easier and less work. Although the brilliant, rather neon green cherry is probably on no one's health food list, but since it's only once a year, we hope no one "glows" too long from these as they're so good! 

THUMBPRINT COOKIES RECIPE

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• Extra sugar
• Candied cherries, cut into halves

Directions:

Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla and egg yolks and continue to beat until well combined. Slowly add flour until combined. Shape into 1” balls and dip tops into egg whites, then into the extra sugar. Place 2” apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Press ½ cherry down into the top of each ball.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until just starting to get color. Let cool for a few minutes, then place on a cooling rack to cool.