Cranberry-Chocolate-Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Yield: About 2½ to 3 dozen cookies
 
Ingredients
  • ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter, slightly softened but not melted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1¼ cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (40 g) dried sweetened cranberries, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon mahlab (see Note below)
  • ½ cup (60 g) sliced almonds, coarsely chopped
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) good quality semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon butter, diced
  • ½ tablespoon milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F; line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat liners.
  2. Cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat in the vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in the flour, cranberries, salt, and mahlab.
  3. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill briefly until it’s stiff enough to roll into balls, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Pour the chopped almond into a shallow bowl. Use a 1 tablespoon-sized scoop to measure out the dough; roll the dough into balls and then lightly roll them in the almond (don't overdo it with the almond; you don't need to completely coat the cookie).
  5. Arrange the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared sheets. Gently press your thumb into the center of each to create an indentation.
  6. Bake until the cookies are set and light golden on the bottom, about 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the trays once.
  7. Immediately after removing from the oven, use the rounded side of a 1 teaspoon-sized measuring spoon to re-form the indentation in each cookie. Cool completely.
  8. Once cool, melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler; stir in the butter until melted, and then stir in the milk.
  9. Spoon about ½ teaspoon of the chocolate into the well in each cookie. Let the chocolate set before serving.
Notes
Where to Find Mahlab: This spice is available at Middle Eastern grocery stores, specialty spice shops, and many gourmet food stores…and I’ve even seen it at Penzeys Spices.
Recipe by An Edible Mosaic™ at https://www.anediblemosaic.com/cranberry-chocolate-almond-thumbprint-cookies/