Praline Thumbprint Cookies

A sugary-sweet praline filling makes for a tasty twist on a classic cookie.

Recipe Ingredients:

Cookies:
1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup pecans, finely chopped (almost ground)

Praline Filling:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/8 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Directions:

1. For Cookies: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In large mixing bowl, cream butter with electric mixer at medium speed; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing well. Stir in flour until just mixed; stir in pecans. Dough will be stiff.
3. Shape into 1-inch balls and place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press your thumb into center of each ball to make an indention.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon Praline Filling into each cookie.
5. For Praline Filling: Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar and salt; bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in milk. Return to heat and bring mixture back to a boil and cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until mixture is smooth.

Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/48 of recipe): 99.0 calories; 53% calories from fat; 6.1g total fat; 12.8mg cholesterol; 40.5mg sodium; 32.8mg potassium; 10.7g carbohydrates; 0.3g fiber; 7.1g sugar; 10.4g net carbs; 0.8g protein.

Recipe and photograph by Hope Cantil; copyright © 1999; property of CooksRecipes.com. See Terms of Use.