“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.”
- Francis Bacon

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Decadent Cashew Thumbprint Cookie with Dulce de Leche Stars




Beautiful to look at - better to eat - these may appear as though you took all day to make them but that is only an optical illusion. Just a few different ingredients than the traditional thumb-print cookie, these will surely have you taking bows long after the last cookie has been consumed by happy guests.

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
1 1/3 cups all-purpose
1 egg white
1 tsp water
1 ½ cups salted cashews, chopped
1 ½-2 cups dulce de leche (depending on how much you fill, see recipe below)
  • Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  • Add egg, vanilla extract, and salt to creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until fully combined.
  • Add in flour, beat on low until fully combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Using a fork, beat together egg white and water in a small bowl. Place cashews in a separate bowl.
  • Remove dough from fridge and shape into 1-inch balls. Dip balls in egg white, allowing excess to drip off. Roll dough balls in cashews to coat.
  • Transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies 2-inches apart. Using a 1-tsp measure, or your thumb, make an indentation in each cookie.
Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set, 12-13 minutes. I like to at this time repress my thumb or tsp measure to make the indentation really big in the cookie when the cookies come out of the oven. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

When cookies are cool, pipe dulce de leche into the indentations. I like to make little stars for the holidays.

Dulce de Leche

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Fill a large stockpot with cold water. Remove the label from the can of milk, and do not open the can. Place the can in the center of the pot; be sure that the water completely covers the can.

CAUTION: The can becomes pressurized when cooking, so for safety reasons, don't allow the water to boil vigorously. Simmer gently for about 1 1/2-2 hours for runny dulce de leche, or up to 4 hours for more solid consistency, adding more water, as necessary, when the water level decreases.

Remove the can with tongs, and cool 15-20 minutes. Carefully pierce the top with a can opener. The tan or brown caramel will ooze slightly from the can when opening. Transfer to an air-tight container, with the lid off, to cool completely. Store refrigerated for up to two weeks.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

.....Stopping by to Wish You & Yours a very Merry Christmas ! !
Love,
Marilyn

Zuzana said...

I am so happy for these posts as now it gives me ideas for what kind of snack and candies to prepare. During the holidays I am off and will have more time to do the things I never get to do when working.;)
xoxo
Zuzana

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Sounds delish! Who know you could make dulce de leche in the can like that. Very interesting! I am gonna try some thumbprint cookies soon. Hope you are having a wonderful day. Holiday blessings :) Tammy

Lucy said...

These would be center stage at a party, wouldn't they?

Unknown said...

OMG! To die for!! TY for sharing.

Love your write on the old vintage homes ... they are so stately & gorgeous! Beautiful .....

Merry Christmas, my friend.
TTFN ~Marydon

crochet lady said...

Wow sounds yummy. Where do you get all these wonderful recipes?

Fifi Flowers said...

THose look sinfully DELICIOUS!!!
Merry Christmas!