Last night I became the proud owner of Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. It may be my imagination, but Martha’s recipes seem to have become more creative over the past year. This book is a gem.
These are so good. I had low expectations for some reason, but the filling is very creamy and tart and the cookie part has a sandy texture and nice flavor, despite the simplicity of the ingredients. Next time, I’m going to add a few teaspoons of cocoa powder and some red food coloring to the dough to make red velvet cheesecake thumbprints, but for now, here’s the regular recipe. Ignore those darker cookies in the back. I was messing around.
Cheesecake Filled Thumbprints (adapted from Martha Stewart)
Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp. sour cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Cookies:
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
Make filling first. Beat together cream cheese, sugar and salt until fluffy and smooth. Stir in egg yolk, sour cream and vanilla. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
Beat together butter, sugar, egg yolk and salt. Stir in flour (do not over beat) and mix until dough forms. Form dough into 24 balls and set on cookie sheets. Wet finger (or use handle of a spoon) and make a deep indentation – do now worry about how wide it is yet. Cookies will spread anyway.
Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and press in middles to re-make indentations. Turn cookies sheets and bake cookies another 7 minutes or until edges start to brown a bit. Remove from oven and fill indentations with cream cheese filling, using a small teaspoon. Return cookies to oven and bake for another 7 minutes. Cool completely and chill. Makes about 30.
Martha says these are best served the next day. I thought they were great today!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
yummy – i love anything cheesecake-y
i will have to try these out.
I knew I needed this book! Perhaps it shall be a late Christmas gift to myself.;-)
my friends are in austin now, do you have any good restaurant recomendations?
Happy Birthday Anna!
I’m glad to hear this one worked out- very pretty, too!
S’kat, I wish I had that new camera. What a beautiful picture this might have been, no?Joe, thanks for the birthday wishes!!Ali, let me know if you try them. I may do the red velvet version for Valentine’s Day.
I just made these this morning and they are HEAVENLY!! Thanks for the recipe!!
I made these this afternoon they are really good, but the filling i add lemon extract not vanilla. Gave it differnt flavor.
Hi Lori,
Good call on adding the lemon extract. I like using lemon in place of vanilla sometimes too.