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Regional, seasonal food with original recipes by Susan S. Bradley

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Home/Christmas Cookies/Lemon Orange Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

Lemon Orange Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

Lemon Orange Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
Lemon Orange Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

There are many versions of this particular cookie, but none quite so tender and rich as this one. The addition of orange and lemon juice ensures a tender dough and adds a flavor nuance that is very appealing.

4 cups cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt

1½ cups unsalted butter, cool room temperature
1 cup extra-fine sugar

3 large egg yolks

freshly grated zest of 1 large orange
freshly grated zest of 1 large lemon
3 tablespoons orange juice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Finishing
4 egg whites, slightly beaten, in a small mixing bowl
12 ounces (3 cups) pecans, minced, in a small mixing bowl
16-ounce jar maraschino cherries in syrup, well drained and halved

  1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream butter and sugar together thoroughly.
  3. Add egg yolks, and beat until fluffy.
  4. Add orange zest, lemon zest, orange juice, lemon juice, and vanilla, and combine.
  5. Refrigerate dough for at least two hours.
  6. With your hands, roll rounded two teaspoons (#70 commercial scoop) of dough into balls. Roll each ball in egg white, then in chopped pecans.
  7. Arrange, 1-inch apart on a lightly greased, parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  8. Press a cherry half into the center of each cookie, flattening slightly.
  9. Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes, until the cookies are set and only slightly browning on the bottom. Cool on wire racks.

Makes about six dozen cookies.

Copyright 2015 Susan S. Bradley. All rights reserved.

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Written by:
Susan S. Bradley
Published on:
December 9, 2015

Categories: Christmas Cookies, Cookies, Deck the Halls Cookie Collection, DessertsTags: butter cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, pecan cookies, twelve days of Christmas cookies

About Susan S. Bradley

Intrepid cook, food writer, culinary instructor, creator of the LunaCafe blog, author of Pacific Northwest Palate: Four Seasons of Great Cooking, and former director of the Northwest Culinary Academy.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen

    December 9, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Just beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like this. Thanks for all these cookie inspirations!

  2. Marlynn

    December 9, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Another very creative flavor combo and twist on a classic. I love it, Susan!

  3. Kelley

    December 9, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    These would make an impact on a table of treats! My dad always gets chocolate-covered cherries for Christmas from my aunt. I bet he’d love these.

  4. Geoff

    December 9, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    These look spectacular. Never seen anything like ’em.

  5. Julia

    December 9, 2015 at 10:42 am

    Orange and lemon in a cookie?! I love this idea for the winter. I have to give these a try.

  6. Pamela

    December 9, 2015 at 9:15 am

    These thumbprint cookies came out perfect! I love the lemon orange flavor you gave them!

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:48 am

      So glad they worked for you, Pamela! 🙂

  7. Pech

    December 9, 2015 at 8:51 am

    I’m not sure about the maraschino cherry, but the flavors combined of orange and lemon and the pecan sound like win. Now if this was a brandied cherry…

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:52 am

      Pech, I allow myself to be kitschy at Christmas. LOL! But a brandied cherry or Amarena Toschi Italian Black Cherries in Syrup would be an excellent adult upgrade. 🙂

  8. Florian

    December 9, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Those look so festive and delicious! Just in time for the holidays.

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:53 am

      Florian, thanks for stopping by. Love your holiday cake. 🙂

  9. Marye

    December 9, 2015 at 5:15 am

    These look amazing! I am going to need to try them asap!

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:53 am

      Marye, thanks so much! 🙂

  10. Rebecca

    December 9, 2015 at 4:46 am

    O I love anything orange this time of year!

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:55 am

      Rebecca, me too. I use them with wild abandon all winter long. 🙂

  11. Adriana

    December 8, 2015 at 10:54 pm

    Oh my goodness so many great memories my aunts were used to bake a cookie recipe similar to yours every Christmas. Thanks for sharing.

    • Susan S. Bradley

      December 9, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Adriana, thank you. Yes, versions of this cookie have been going strong for many decades. I’ve tried dozens of them over the years. 🙂

  12. Anonymous

    May 15, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Your blog is inspiring. Thank you for all of your time & work.

  13. Radar

    December 13, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    I am new to Luna cafe–how do I print the amazing recipes so I might try to recreate them for my family? Or is there a book? Radar

    • smsb

      December 14, 2008 at 2:16 pm

      Radar, MauJim, our site Admin, just added a print option, per your request, which appears at the bottom of each post. This will give you a print out of the entire post without the pictures and links. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! 🙂

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Susan S. Bradley

Intrepid cook, food writer, culinary instructor, creator of the LunaCafe blog, author of Pacific Northwest Palate: Four Seasons of Great Cooking, and former director of the Northwest Culinary Academy. Read More…

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