Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons halal vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup raspberry or strawberry jam (for thumbprints)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (for melting and dipping)
- 1/4 cup festive sprinkles
- 1/2 cup crushed nuts (like walnuts or pistachios)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat well until everything is fully combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Divide the dough into three parts. For the first part, roll small balls and press your thumb in the center to create a well. Fill each well with a small amount of jam.
- For the second part, roll the dough into flat discs or use cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars or trees.
- For the third part, mix in some chocolate chips or leave them plain to dip in melted chocolate later.
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just slightly golden. The centers should still look a bit soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cool, melt the remaining chocolate chips. Dip the plain cookies halfway into the chocolate and immediately top with sprinkles or crushed nuts.
- Let the chocolate set completely before packing the cookies into your gift boxes.