Chocolate Thumbprints

Directions

1. 1
   Beat butter, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla in medium bowl until light and fluffy.
2. 2
   In another bowl, stir flour, cocoa and salt.
3. 3
   Add to butter mixture gradually until blended.
4. 4
   Refrigerate dough until firm (about 1 hour).
5. 5
   Heat oven to 350.
6. 6
   Lightly grease cookie sheet.
7. 7
   Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
8. 8
   Beat egg white slightly with fork.
9. 9
   Dip each ball into egg white then roll in nuts (I've also done without the egg/nut mixture due to family preference).
10. 10
    Place on cookie sheet.
11. 11
    Press thumb gently in center of each cookie.
12. 12
    Bake 10-12 minutes or until set.
13. 13
    While cooking, prepare filling by combining powdered sugar, 1 T. butter, 2 t. milk, and 1/4 t. vanilla until smooth.
14. 14
    Remove wrappers from candies.
15. 15
    Remove cookies from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool 5 minutes.
16. 16
    Spoon about 1/4 t. filling into each thumbprint.
17. 17
    Gently press an unwrapped candy in center of each cookie.
18. 18
    Cool completely.