Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Description

• Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 1 egg, separated
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup Hershey's cocoa
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 26 Hershey's Kisses chocolates, Hershey's Hugs chocolates or pecan halves or candied cherry halves

Vanilla filling

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon softened butter or margarine
• 2 teaspoons milk
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Beat butter, sugar, egg yolk, milk and vanilla in medium bowl until light and fluffy.
2. Stir together flour, Hershey's cocoa and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended.
3. Refrigerate dough at least 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
4. Heat oven to 350°F.
5. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
6. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
7. With fork, beat egg white slightly.
8. Dip each ball into egg white; roll in nuts.
9. Place on prepared cookie sheet.
10. Press thumb gently in center of each cookie.
11. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set.
12. Meanwhile, prepare vanilla filling.
13. Remove wrappers from Hershey's Kisses chocolates.
14. Remove cookies from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool 5 minutes.
15. Spoon about ¼ teaspoon filling into each thumbprint.
16. Gently press chocolate, nut or cherry into center of each cookie.
17. Cool completely.

Vanilla filling

1. Combine powdered sugar, softened butter or margarine, milk and vanilla extract in small bowl.
2. Beat until smooth.

Variation

1. Omit egg white and chopped nuts.
2. Roll balls in granulated sugar.