Hazelnut Ganache Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, yolk and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; add a third at a time to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in nuts. , Roll dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a 1/2-in.-deep indentation in the center of each ball; fill with 1/4 teaspoon of preserves. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool. Just a before serving, lightly dust with confectioners' sugar.

NUTELLA® THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, melted butter and egg with spoon until soft dough forms.
• Shape into 50 (3/4-inch) balls. In small bowl, beat egg whites lightly with fork. Place nuts in another small bowl. Dip each ball into egg white, then roll in nuts. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 1 inch apart.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets. Using end of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• When ready to serve, spoon hazelnut chocolate spread into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off small corner of bag; insert cut corner of bag into indentation in each cookie. Squeeze bag to fill opening, about 1/2 teaspoon per cookie. Sprinkle with nonpareils.
• Store covered in airtight container at room temperature in single layer.

HAZELNUT GELT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, ground hazelnuts, baking powder, and salt and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and orange zest on medium high until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each, and then add the vanilla.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until blended. At this point you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour, or up to two days, or you can get going on rolling out your dough and cutting out your cookies immediately.
• When ready to bake, set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
• Working with half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness that's just under 1/2-inch-thick. Cut out 2 1/2-inch circles with a biscuit cutter and then transfer to a baking sheet, 1-inch apart. Re-roll scraps and cut out more shapes. Bake until they're lightly browned on the bottom; begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Spoon a teaspoon of chocolate onto the top of each cookie, and spread it around with a spoon into a little Gelt-sized circle. Top with sprinkles and let set in the fridge or at room temperature. Enjoy!
• To make the gelt, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwavable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Melt until it's just smooth and then remove from heat.

HAZLENUT GANACHE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Add the gianduja chocolate and vanilla. Remove from heat, and stir until melted. Stir in the hazelnuts until incorporated. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in the butter. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• When ready to use, remove from refrigerator and stir with a wooden spoon until softened, about 1 minute.

HAZELNUT GANACHE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, hazelnut meal and a pinch of salt
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar together until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract; beat once more. In 2 additions, add the dry ingredient mixture, scraping down the bowl if needed, until completely combined. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Scoop scant tablespoonfuls of dough, roll into balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them a few inches apart. Make an indentation, a thumbprint, in the center of each ball of dough using your thumb and/or the help of your index finger. Bake until the bottoms are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately reinforce the thumbprints using the end of a wooden spoon. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheets.
• While the cookies are cooling, make the ganache. Place the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan set over medium-high flame and heat until the cream is scalding. Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and allow to stand for 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
• When the cookies are cool, add a scant teaspoon of chocolate ganache to each thumbprint. Top with a sprinkle of flaked sea salt. If transporting, allow the chocolate to set for 1 hour.