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Pecan Thumbprint Jam Cookies

by Joanne Chang
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Yields about 4 dozen cookies.

ingredient discovery
Ingredients raspberry preserves pecans confectioners' sugar more more
14-1/4 oz. (3 cups plus 2 Tbs.) unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. table salt
3/4 lb. (1-1/2 cups) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
6 oz. (1-1/2 cups) pecans, toasted and finely ground in  a food processor
3 oz. (1 cup) confectioners’ sugar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 to 3/4 cup red raspberry preserves with seeds
Tip: For the best results, measure your flour by weight instead of volume. (1 cup of all-purpose flour equals 4-1/2 oz.) If you don’t have a scale, be sure to use the proper technique when filling your measuring cups.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt to blend. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and pecans on medium speed until very soft and light, about 3 min. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until thoroughly combined, about 1 min. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the mixer on low speed, slowly blend in the flour until totally incorporated, about 30  seconds.

Using your hands, roll the dough into 1- to 1-1/4-inch balls and set them about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press your thumb into the middle of each dough ball to create a well for the preserves. Stir the preserves to loosen and then spoon about 1/2 tsp. into the middle of each dough ball. Bake until the cookies are golden brown, about 20 min. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 1 min. before transferring them to a rack to  cool.

The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for three to four days.

photo: Scott Phillips
From Fine Cooking 68, pp. 86d
December 1, 2005

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Star Star Star Star Star by jlcall, 6/21/2009so yummy
Star Star Star Star Star by ValerieMO, 5/13/2009This is absolutely my favorite cookie. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Easy, yummy, makes a lot of cookies with each batch. No strange, hard-to-find ingredients. Great recipe.