Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup blanched, unsalted almonds
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
• 10 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup raspberry or strawberry jam

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. 2. Combine almonds and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade; puree until almonds are finely ground, about 1 minute.
3. 3. Add flour and next 3 ingredients, and pulse several times. Add butter, and pulse until mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse meal.
4. 4. Whisk together egg and vanilla in a small bowl, and add to almond mixture. Pulse until dough becomes sticky.
5. 5. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface, and knead several times to form a disk. (Dough will be soft.) Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 30 minutes.
6. 6. Divide dough into 24 portions; roll each portion into a ball. Place balls on an ungreased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Press a thumb into center of each cookie to make an indentation.
7. 7. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon jam into each indentation. Bake 15 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown. Remove from oven; cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.