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Cheesecake Thumbprints

Source of Recipe

From "Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook" by Martha Stewart


Recipe Introduction

"These cookies are best eaten after they have been refrigerated overnight. Allow them to sit at room temperature for twenty minutes before serving."

List of Ingredients

◦ 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
◦ � cup sugar
◦ � teaspoon salt, plus a pinch
◦ 2 large egg yolks
◦ 1 � teaspoons sour cream
◦ ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
◦ 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
◦ 2 cups all-purpose flour


Recipe

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add � cup sugar and a pinch of salt, and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add one egg yolk, sour cream, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350� F, with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and remaining � cup sugar on medium speed until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add remaining � teaspoon salt and egg yolk; beat to combine. With mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined.

Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls, and place on prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Using the lightly floured end of a thick wooden spoon handle (or your thumb), make an indentation in the center of each ball.

Bake 10 minutes; remove from oven and make indentations again. Rotate sheets, return to oven, and bake until edges of cookies begin to turn golden, 7 to 9 minutes more. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Using a small teaspoon, fill the center of each cookie with about 1 teaspoon cream-cheese filling, mounding it slightly. Return cookies to the oven, and bake until the filling is firm, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container, layered between waxed or parchment paper, at least 4 hours before serving (cookies can be refrigerated overnight).

Makes about 30






❧ Cheesecake-Filled Chocolate Thumbprints:

In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt 2 ounces semisweet chocolate; let cool. Follow instructions for Cheesecake Thumbprints, adding melted chocolate to butter mixture along with the egg yolk and salt. Reduce the flour by 3 tablespoons, and whisk with 3 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder before adding to the dough. (The edges of these cookies will be firm to the touch when baked.)