Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients:

1/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup walnuts, very finely chopped

whipped egg white

Directions:

Cream shortening and butter together. Add egg yolk, vanilla, and brown sugar. Stir in flour and salt. Form dough into 1-inch balls and roll in egg white, then nuts. Place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake 375 for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and press thumb into each cookie. Return to oven and bake 8 minutes more.

Frost centers with butter cream frosting, tinted green or red.

Yields:

A baker's dozen.

Notes:

Very unique cookie recipe, very delicious. Great for parties and display. Grandma recommends pushing the dough into the nuts a bit, so they stick well--a good idea. My thumbs sometimes get burnt if I press them into the hot cookie, so instead, I try to use something similar-sized, like a small measuring spoon.

Source:

Grandma Jean