Blogging with Kristine Cayne: Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exchange: Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Kristine Cayne's Cookie [Recipe] Exchange: Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Today I have the fourth cookie recipe for the Kristine Cayne Cookie (Recipe) Exhange. If you love sweet chocolate, then this is the one for you.

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This is another simple recipe that the whole family can make and enjoy together and it makes 28 cookies to share

Okay here's the recipe brought to you by Cooking Light (December 2009 Issue, page 258)

Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon instant espresso (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, toasted
1/3 cup hazelnut-chocolate spread (such as Nutella)

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt; stir with a whisk. Place butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Stir egg yolks with a whisk, adding espresso, if desired. Add yolk mixture and vanilla to butter; beat well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat at low speed just until combined.
3. Turn dough out onto a sheet of wax paper. knead 6 times or until smooth and shiny. Shape dough into 28 (1-inch) balls. Roll sides of balls in nuts, pressing gently. Arrange balls 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press thumb into center of each cookie, leaving an indentation. Bake, 1 batch at a time, at 350F for 10 minutes. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Spoon a scant 1/2 teaspoons hazelnut-chocolate spread into center of each cookie.

Yield: 28 cookies

In case you missed them, here are links to the previous recipes posted as part of the cookie recipe exhange.

Previous Recipes
Sugar Cookies
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Caden's Candy Cookies

Holiday Decorations

I received some pictures of holiday decorations! If you are like me and haven't started decorating yet, maybe these pics will provide some inspiration.

Eileen Cook's Christmas Tree

Thank you Eileen (Visit fellow author Eileen's website: http://www.eileencook.com/).
I'm glad to see your getting settled into your new home.

Outdoor Decorations

This photo of neighborhood outdoor decorations was sent in by fellow author Kelli Estes (Visit Kelli's blog: http://www.kelliestes.com/blog)

What about those big city outdoor decorations? Take a look at what the City of Concord California has decided to do. Seems some people are a little put out by their government's choice.
See the video: Good Grief! California Charlie Brown Tree

So, have all these recipes and photos put you in the holiday mood? I hope so

Please continue to share your favorite cookie recipes and holiday decoration photos by sending them to me at kristine@kristinecayne.com.

If you make any of the recipes, why not take a picture and let us know how they turned out? I'd love to hear your stories.

Happy writing,
Kristine