Jewel Brooch Cookies

By carvalhohm2

Ingredients

• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. softened butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Garnishes: Crystalized cherries cut in quarters, stiff jam or jelly (seeded black or red raspberry jam is delicious), bits of candided ginger, tiny cubs of candied orange or lemon peel or citron, semi sweet chocolate pieces, almond halves etc.

Details

Adapted from youtube.com

Preparation

Step 1

Mix flour and sugar. Add butter and mix as for pie crust until coarse crumbs are formed. Add egg yolk and vanilla and mix with the fingers or a pastry blender until dough holds together. Form into a ball and place in the refrigerator 20 minutes or until stiff enough to handle.

Using a measuring half teaspoon, put pieces of dough one inch apart on cookie sheet, then shape into balls with floured palms. Make an indentation in the center of each ball with the little finger but do not punch all the way to the pan.

Press one of the garnishes suggested below into the small hole. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and loosen cookies with a spatula. Let remain in pans until at room temperature. Store in airtight container at room temp or in the freezer.