Italian Thumbprint Cookies
What starts as a simple shortbread cookie gets gussies up with the addition of marmalade and jam and a drizzle of white chocolate. Microwaving the jam before you bake it helps to cook out some of the moisture in the preserves so it stays in place while baking. We like the slightly bitter edge of marmalade and the tangy sweetness of plum or raspberry preserves but feel free to use any jam or fruit preserves you like. The white chocolate drizzle is optional but it sure does make for a pretty presentation.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ⅓ cup orange marmalade
- ⅓ cup plum preserves or seedless raspberry jam
- 2 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Directions
- Beat butter and ⅔ cup of the sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in lemon zest and vanilla. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. Shape dough into a disk, and wrap with plastic wrap; chill 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, place marmalade and preserves into 2 separate small microwave-safe bowls; microwave both on HIGH until thick and bubbly, about 3 minutes, stirring at 1-minute intervals. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place remaining ⅓ cup sugar in a shallow dish. Shape dough into 36 balls, about 1 tablespoon each; roll dough balls in sugar, and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Press thumb into the center of each cookie, leaving an indentation. Fill half of the cookies with marmalade and the remaining half with plum preserves or jam. Bake until cookies are set but not browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on pans about 3 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- Place white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH, stirring every 15 seconds, until completely melted and smooth, about 45 seconds. Drizzle cookies with melted chocolate, and let stand until dry and set, about 20 minutes.
