Heavenly Hanukkah Citrus Thumbprint (Printable Version)

Buttery cookies with citrus curd, celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas with a festive, melt-in-your-mouth treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookies

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg yolk
04 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Citrus Curd Filling

07 - 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
10 - 2 large egg yolks
11 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
12 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
13 - 1/2 teaspoon finely grated citrus zest

→ Optional Decoration

14 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Combine orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and citrus zest in a small saucepan and whisk until smooth.
02 - Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly until thickened and mixture coats the back of a spoon, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in cubed butter until fully incorporated. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill until set.
03 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
04 - Add egg yolk and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Incorporate flour and salt and mix on low speed until just combined.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and space 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
06 - Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, make an indentation in the center of each ball.
07 - Bake cookies for 10 minutes, then remove and gently reinforce the indentation if needed.
08 - Fill each indentation with 1/2 teaspoon citrus curd and return cookies to the oven for 5 minutes, baking until edges are barely golden.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Uses everyday pantry staples plus fresh citrus for bold flavor
  • Bakes up quickly without any complicated steps
  • Both adults and kids cannot resist the cheerful citrus burst
  • Beautiful enough for gifts or celebrations yet easy to make on a whim
02 -
  • High in zesty vitamin C from real citrus
  • Easy to freeze and make ahead for gatherings
  • Customizable for any season or occasion
03 -
  • Finely zest your citrus just before use for the brightest oils and most fragrant filling
  • Do not skimp on that second indentation step or you will not have enough room for luscious curd
  • Let the cookies cool fully so the curd sets and you get clean beautiful results with each bite

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