Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry-filled, fragile, buttery pecan-crusted cookies. They remind me of a miniature pie in flavor and looks. They are a delicious cookie any time of the year, but especially perfect for the holiday season. Other fillings can be used; any jelly, jam, candied fruit or tinted powdered sugar icing. Our family favorite is raspberry jam.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 102 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups finely chopped pecans
• 2 eggs, separated
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ½ cup butter at room temperature
• ½ cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco®)
• 1 (8 ounce) jar raspberry jam, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Beat butter, vegetable shortening, and brown sugar together in a bowl until smooth and creamy; beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract. Retain egg whites for a later step. Stir flour into butter mixture 1 cup at a time; mix in salt.

Step 3

Beat egg whites in a separate bowl; transfer pecans to a shallow bowl. Pinch off and roll dough into 1-inch balls, dip each in beaten egg white, and roll in pecans. Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Use your thumb to form an indention into the top of each cookie and spoon a small amount of raspberry jam into the hollow.

Step 4

Bake cookies in the preheated oven until very lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes.