Get Creative with Cookie Fillings!
If you've been keeping up with the last few days of ideas to make the holidays a little more special, you saw the sugar cookies I made with my grandmother's cookie cutters. That day, I made sugar cookies from scratch for the first time (SO FUN), and proceeded to embark on thumbprint cookies for the first time as well. Cliff and I watch how much dessert we typically eat, so I don't have extensive experience with sweet treats. I've decided that as long as we enjoy in moderation, it's ok to try new recipes. I'm definitely maxing out on that concept (and increasing the workouts to accommodate that enthusiasm...ha!).
Since I'm sure all of you reading this are awesome bakers, I'm only making a small suggestion for the holidays...try incorporating a new filling when making a classic cookie. The transition from fall to winter is always cozy, and I don't mind a little carry-over from one holiday season to another. I've enjoyed thumbprint cookies that are filled with fruity deliciousness, but this time I made them with apple butter. The consistency has just a little more "heft" to it, which I like, and the cookie still holds the delicate balance of sweet and tart without going overboard.
I also drizzled the finished product with some powdered sugar glaze (though it melted before I took the picture, so you can't really notice the original design). I used the recipe from Chew Out Loud, and just used apple butter instead of other jam flavors.
Though the drizzle didn't hold its shape, I think the flavor added a little additional "love" to the cookies, and another dimension that makes them a little extra special. For the batch of 24 cookies, I just stirred ⅓ cup powdered sugar with a few tablespoons of almond milk and a drop of pure vanilla extract. You can adjust the amounts based upon the consistency and flavor you like.
Making cookies from scratch has been a fun experience thus far, and I have a feeling I'm not quite done yet! 🙂 It's a little more cost effective, and they don't have the same amount of preservatives and chemicals that can be found on store shelves. These aren't exactly healthy, but - like I said before - we believe that is ok in moderation. If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!
Also, if you have any experience with a frosting drizzle...how do you get it to maintain its shape? I'd love your suggestions!
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