Dear Neighbor,
Christmas better hurry and get over, because we’re running out of Christmas cookies over here! We’ve been enjoying them for a few days now and perhaps enjoying them too much.
What’s your favorite Christmas cookie? My favorite cookie is the Thumbprint cookie. I can’t remember a Christmas without them.
Back in the 1950s, the electric and gas companies in Milwaukee used to give free cookbooks with holiday recipes to all their customers. Can you imagine an utility company giving away something? Then again, banks used to give you free items to bank with them. Ah, those were the days….
This recipe came from the electric company book printed in 1958. My mom gave me her collection of utility company cookbooks when I had a home of my own, which is good because in later years, all the family recipes were lost in my mom’s last move. All the old German family recipes gone with the wind! At least this one is safe and sound.Thumbprint cookies are a nutty, buttery cookie with a raspberry jam filling that makes your toast and jam look pretty boring. It makes a very small batch of cookies so you may want to double.
Thumbprint Cookies
1/4 c butter, softened
1 egg yolk, ….save the white for later
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
1 c. flour
1 c. finely chopped pecans
Raspberry jam
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream butter, vanilla and egg yolk. Add brown sugar. Cream well. Add flour and salt. Make small balls, truffle sized, and roll in egg white and then nuts. Place on cookie sheet and use your knucke to make a hole. Bank up the sides if they split in creating the hole. You are creating a small nest for the jam.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until very lightly brown. Cool. Fill with jam before serving. Do not prefill cookies and store. The moisture from the jam will make the cookie all gooey. Which is why I don’t have a picture of my cookies completed…I’d have to eat them!
Unfilled cookies can remain in a sealed container for a month or frozen.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas! Scarlett