CLASSIC THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH ICING RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat butter, shortening and brown sugar in large bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Beat until blended. Gradually add flour, mixing until blended.
• 2. PLACE pecans in small bowl. Roll dough into 48 (1-inch) balls. Roll in pecans to coat. Place on baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Using your index finger, make a round indentation in top center of each ball of dough.
• 3. BAKE 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Reshape center indentations, as necessary. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon fruit spread into each indentation. Bake an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from baking sheets to wire rack to cool completely.

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust rack to middle position. Coat two cookie sheets lightly with no-stick cooking spray.
• BEAT brown sugar and shortening in medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, water, vanilla and salt. Beat until well combined. Add flour on low speed until well blended.
• BEAT egg whites in a shallow bowl until foamy. Place pecans in a separate shallow bowl. Measure about 2 teaspoons dough for each cookie. Roll into balls. Dip each dough ball into egg whites, then roll into pecans. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Using the back of a teaspoon or your thumb, make a rounded indentation in the top of each cookie.
• BAKE 10 minutes. Remove from oven. It may be necessary to create the indentation once again with a spoon. Place about 1 teaspoon preserves into the indentation of each cookie. Bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Cool on baking sheet for several minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.