Thumb Print Cookies for Santa

Christmas is only a week away...do you have your shopping done? Or more importantly the cookies planned that you will leave out for Santa this year? Thumb prints are one of my favorite holiday cookies and are super simple to make. I made them earlier this month for a sweet swap and have also taken them to several holiday parties. If you are pressed for time and need a quick treat, and better yet one that doesn't require a ton of ingredients or even getting out the mixer then this cookie is the perfect solution! Any they are super yummy too!

The cookies require four ingredients: melted butter, all-purpose flour, confectioner's sugar and salt all mixed together and rolled into balls.

Then just simply place your "thumb" in the middle of each cookie to create a space for the icing you will add after baking.

Thumb prints ready for the oven! Literally you can make up these cookies in about five minutes. This is a perfect recipe to get your kids involved in the kitchen for some holiday baking fun. They will love making Santa a special batch of cookies.

Once the cookies cool mix some confectioner's sugar and milk and tint your favorite colors and ice the center of the cookies!

Thumb Print Cookies
(makes 3 dozen)

For the cookies:
-1/2 lb unsalted butter, melted
-2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-3/4 cups confectioner's sugar
-1/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well. Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. Thumb print the center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Add icing when cool.

For the icing:
-2 cups confectioner's sugar
-4 Tbsp milk
-food coloring

Combine confectioner's sugar and enough milk until thick pouring consistency. Add food coloring to tint desired colors. Add icing to cookies.



What are some of your favorite cookies to leave for Santa?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Whew! It was a busy weekend full of lots of baking and Christmas parties! But I must admit I loved every minute of it! Baking is one of my absolute favorite things to do this time of year. So many great recipes to share with friends and family. This weekend was packed with parties so I wanted to prepare sweets that wouldn't require a lot of time in the kitchen. One of my favorite go to recipes that doesn't require any baking and that everyone always loves is Cookie Dough Truffles.

I discovered this recipe a few years ago from Paula Deen and have loved it ever since. I mean who doesn't love an excuse to eat cookie dough right? And this recipe doesn't have raw eggs in them like chocolate chip cookie batter does, so that means you can keep popping truffle after truffle into your mouth!

Right after I finished preparing these truffles for a Christmas party on Friday night, I sat down for a few minutes to watch some Food Network and who else was on but Paula Deen...and what was she making...these exact same Cookie Dough Truffles. The timing couldn't have been any more perfect! Any what's even funnier is that one of the girls who came to the party had just watched the very same episode and had said "I sure do wish I had some of those cookie dough truffles". Well little did she know a few hours later I would be bringing them to the party for her to enjoy!

So if you are looking for a super simple, no bake dessert that is sure to be a crowd favorite this holiday then you must give these Cookie Dough Truffles a try! I followed Paula's recipe and just swapped out the pecans for a 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips! I loved the combination of the semi-sweet and white chips! YUM!

Hope you enjoy these! Up next is one of my favorite cookie recipes!

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream

It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is my absolute favorite month to bake! Cookies, candies, pies and cakes are all on my baking to do list this holiday season! To start things off I've creates a new recipe for Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream! This quite possibly is one of my all time favorite cupcakes!

Chocolate and Peppermint are an amazing flavor combination. Topped off with some homemade peppermint bark, these cupcakes are sure to be one festive treat at your holiday party this year! I will certainly be making them again to share with family and friends in the coming weeks.

Head on over to Half Baked for the cupcake and peppermint bark recipes! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday filled will all sorts of yummy sweets!