These are beautiful, festive cookies that can be made at holiday time or anytime. They are gorgeous enough to set right in the middle of your holiday dessert presentation.
cookie:
1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg yolk*
1 t. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
4 t. red food coloring
2 t. cocoa powder
1/2 c. granulated sugar or sanding sugar
filling:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk*
1/4 c. sugar
1/8 t. salt
1/4 t. vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
Beat together butter, brown sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, food coloring, and cocoa powder until soft dough forms.
Scoop out dough by heaping tablespoons and roll them in the sugar* before placing on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Use your thumb or the back of a round teaspoon to make a small indentation in the cookie dough.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the filling: using an electric mixer or small food processor, beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
After the first 10 minutes of baking, use the back of a round teaspoon to deepen the indentation in the cookies. Spoon a teaspoon of the filling into each indentation. Bake for an additional 12 minutes, until filling is set.
Let cool completely before serving. Store covered and chilled.
Makes 2-3 dozen.
*Reserve the egg whites and dunk the cookie dough balls in the egg whites before rolling them in the sugar.