These cookies bring me back to my teen years. There is a specific bakery in my hometown called Smiths Bakery, where I always stop by get donuts or cookies. They are known for their smiley face sugar cookies. In high school, they were always given to us almost after every basketball game. It was just the way we celebrate after a big win or even a loss.
Aside from the smiley face cookies, they sell those mini thumbprint cookies with sprinkles and chocolate ganache center. I would always buy them. This business has expanded..selling in many gas stations. That's how popular they are!
I have now created a replica of these cookies, in a larger version. But, still very similar. I can't wait to share these with my friends and family. Just in time for the holidays! I love these cookies because you can use any color sprinkles to tie into whatever holiday you are celebrating. They are the cutest, most delicious little things!
Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Thumbprint Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Ganache
Makes 28 medium size cookies
Ingredients
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter ( 2 sticks), room temperature
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
Colorful sprinkles or holiday sprinkles
Chocolate ganache topping for thumbprint
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
⅓ cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
In a medium size bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer with the attachment paddle, cream the butter, granulated sugar for about 3 minutes. Turn off the stand mixer, and add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until all the wet ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Add half of the flour mixture until it is mixed through, then add the rest of the mixture and continue until all the ingredients come together.
Place sprinkles in a small bowl or plate.
Using a medium size cookie scoop, scoop the dough to form a ball. Then, using your thumb, create a deep thumbprint in the center for a well for the chocolate ganache.
Roll and pat the cookie dough in the sprinkles and place on a baking sheet. Repeat.
Bake for about 12 minutes. Once they’re out of the oven, you can measure 1 tsp chocolate ganache into the center of the cookie. Note: if the center thumbprint doesn’t appear as it should, using your finger, create a deeper well.
Once topped with chocolate, allow to completely cool. Enjoy!
Directions for Chocolate Ganache
Heat the cream on the stovetop, just until simmered. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl and pour the cream right over and whisk until smooth.
Snickerdoodles Recipe
Follow the same steps as the sugar cookie, except instead of using sprinkles, you will roll the dough into cinnamon sugar and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.
If you want plain snickerdoodles, you can skip the thumbprint and just bake once they are rolled in the cinnamon sugar.
I used this batter to make half sprinkles and half snickerdoodles. You can choose if you would like to do the same or just do all sprinkles or all snickerdoodles.
