Chestnut Chocolate Italian Christmas Pillow Cookie Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Center your oven rack in over and preheat to 425 degrees Line a rimmed large cookie sheet with parchment paper
• 2. Place sugar, cocoa and chestnuts in food processor and blend until chestnuts are finely ground. Then add cinnamon, cloves ginger, and rum. Pulse until smooth, scraping down sides of processor as necessary. Add chocolate chips, and pulse until combined.
• 3. Unroll room temperature pie crusts on a work surface and, using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out 10 rounds from each crust. Work one pie crust at a time. Brush the pastry rounds with the beaten egg to cover.
• 4. Drop 1 generous teaspoon of the filling into the center of each round. Fold half of the dough over the filling and seal to make a half-circle shape. Brush the top of the half-circle closed dough with the beaten egg. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes.
• 5. Transfer to a rack and cool to room temperature. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Blend the chestnuts, sugar and salt in a food processor until the chestnuts are finely ground. Add the rum, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Blend until the filling is almost smooth, scraping down the work bowl as necessary. Add the chocolate chips and pulse until combined. (Can be made 2 days in advance).
• Working with 1 pie crust at a time, unroll the pie crusts on a work surface and, using a 3-inch round cutter, cut out 10 rounds from each crust. Brush the pastry rounds with the beaten egg to cover. Drop 1 generous teaspoon of the filling into the center of each round. Fold half of the dough over the filling and seal to make a half-circle shape. Brush the top of the tortelli with the beaten egg. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes.
• Transfer to a rack and cool to room temperature. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium until fluffy. Add egg yolk, vanilla, and salt; beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add flour, and beat on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate. (Dough can be frozen, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 month; thaw before using.)
• Form dough into 1-inch balls; place on parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Using thumb or rounded end of a wooden spoon or dowel, make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie. Fill each with about 1 teaspoon creme de marrons or Nutella. Place in freezer or refrigerator until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake until edges are golden and cookies are firm, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.