Caramel Apricot Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with the paddle attachment-the one that looks like the peace sign-and beat until creamy and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks and almond extract and beat for another minute or so, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped almonds.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture. When combined, the dough should be soft and homogeneous. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm.
• When you're ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge and roll it into 3/4-inch balls. Place the balls about 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Using the tip of your thumb, make a hole as deep as you can in each doughball without actually poking through the bottom. Roll your thumb around a little bit to widen the hole-this is your thumbprint!
• Bake the cookies for 16 to 18 minutes or until they begin to turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool. While the cookies are cooling, repoke each one with your thumb to create a really nice spot for the caramel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the caramel: In a medium saute pan, combine the sugar, lemon juice, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. Be careful not to swish the pan around as that can cause the sugar to recrystallize. As the mixture boils, the water will evaporate and the sugar will begin to turn brown, or "caramelize." This is the point when you DO NOT want to take your eyes off it! Things can take a turn for the worse here and there will be no recovery. As the sugar begins to turn gold and move toward golden brown, remove it from the heat and add the heavy cream. As you do this it will bubble up like crazy. Be sure to use a pan large enough to accommodate the bubbling-this stuff is molten and can cause a very severe burn. Whisk the cream until things settle down and the bubbles subside, then add the butter 2 pats at a time, making sure each addition is thoroughly incorporated before adding more.
• Let the caramel cool slightly, then spoon it into the hole of each cookie and let cool. You'll most likely have leftover caramel sauce, so save it for something yummy-like pouring over vanilla ice cream!

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350°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 two teaspoons dough for each cookie. Form into balls by rolling between your palms. 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 1/2 teaspoon caramel topping into the indentation of each cookie. Then place about 1/2 teaspoon preserves on top of the caramel. Bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for several minutes. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust rack to middle position. Coat two cookie sheets lightly with cooking spray. Beat brown sugar and shortening until fluffy. Add egg yolks, water, vanilla and salt. Beat until well combined. Add the flour on low speed until well blended. Beat egg whites in a shallow bowl until foamy. Place the pecans in a shallow bowl.
• Measure about two tsp. of dough for each cookie. Form dough into balls by rolling between your palms. Dip each dough ball into the egg whites, then roll into the pecans and place on the 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 1/2 tsp. caramel topping into the indentation of each cookie. Then place about 1/2 tsp. preserves on top of the caramel. Bake an additional 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for several minutes, and then remove to cooling rack.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, flour, oil, 4 eggs, cinnamon and ginger until well blended., In a shallow bowl, whisk water and remaining eggs. Place half of the pecans in another shallow bowl. Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Dip in egg mixture, then coat with pecans, adding remaining pecans to bowl as needed. Place cookies 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets., Press a deep indentation in center of each cookie with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Fill each indentation with preserves. Bake 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough water to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set.

Steps:

• Whip cream with confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Whisk in amaretto or almond extract. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Melt butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add sugar; stir to dissolve. Swirl occasionally until mixture is light brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add apricots, cut side down. Increase heat to medium high, and cook until sugar has turned a deep amber and apricots are well caramelized, no more than 5 minutes. Shake pan a few times.
• Remove pan from heat and transfer apricots to a plate, cut side up. Whisk milk into sugar mixture to make caramel sauce. Simmer over low heat until thick, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Arrange apricots on 4 plates and pour sauce over each one. Spoon almond cream on the side and garnish with sliced almonds.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine butter, sugar and cream cheese; mix until well blended.
• Blend in egg and lemon juice; mix well.
• Add flour and baking powder; mix well.
• Chill at least 3 hours.
• Shape into 1" balls.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet; make indentation in center with your thumb or the back of a spoon.
• Fill indentation with 1 tsp (approximately) of apricot preserves.
• Bake for 15 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cool.
• Dust with powdered sugar.