iced thumbprint cookies
When I was little, my grandma, mom and I would go to the Belgian bakery in Illinois. My great-grandmother immigrated from Belgium when she was a teenager, making our family extremely dedicated to Belgian culture. The little bakery sits off of a side street in a tiny town in Illinois, nestled between restaurants and a small parking lot lined in vans busting with cookies, cakes, and pastries. The second you step inside, you’re at home. A small diner style booth sits at the front facing a window to peer out at pedestrians. The walls are crowded with fake wedding cakes decorated with intricate swirls and piping work. Large display cases cover sides of the bakery filled with every possible sweet you could think of. While some might get distracted by the colors and delights surrounding them, we know what we came for. Stepping up to the register, we order several plates of frosted pecan cookies. I’ve tried endlessly to figure out the best recipe possible for these incredible buttery sinful bites, and found that the simpler I made them, the better. Give these a try and I know you will NOT be disappointed. ENJOY!
Ingredients:
16 tablespoons room temperature butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (trust me it helps bake the cookies more evenly, prevents burning on the bottom of the cookie, and makes for easier clean up).
Cream the butter and granulated sugar together for 1-2 minutes. You want it to be fluffy and light.
Add in vanilla and mix until incorporated.
Mix in salt then fold the flour until just incorporated. If you over mix, it can effect the texture of the cookie, so fold just until it forms a dough.
Fold in your chopped pecans.
Take about a tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball. Place onto the sheet and place your dough balls about 2 inches apart from one another.
Once you’ve got them all placed out, gently push your thumb (wash your hands please) into the top of the ball until it flattens slightly and there’s an ident in the center.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until slightly golden on the edges.
Let cool then top with buttercream or your favorite icing!
Eat them all and give to your friends, neighbors, family, or anyone who needs a little pick me up!
