Red Velvet Thumbprints

I added the Baking powder and extra flour, per a review below. I also added Cherry Concentrate and a little more flour adjusting for moisture of the juice. This gives a nice lasting faint cherry taste to the cookie. I added the powered sugar to the filling and added silver Degrees next to the White chip. The cookie firmed up really good for container stacking. I'm sure my friends and family will enjoy this Christmas cookie.

This recipe is terrible, just as DonnaBennett said. I've been having trouble with Southern Living baking recipes lately (anyone else?), and this may be my last one. As a former recipe developer, tester and chef (yes, truly) I wonder what is going on in the SL test kitchen. Are they not testing their recipes enough? Who is their final proofreader? Really, their recipes should work - people should not be having to add baking powder and increase the flour, etc. to get things to work. Not a happy camper.

I read the review about the lack of a levening agent, so I decided to add 1 tsp of baking powder.  It made a HUGE difference!  They came out thick and chewy, just like I like them.  The dough is also very sticky at first so I recommend adding about 1/4 cup more flour and chilling the dough for about 30 minutes before rolling into balls.  For the filling, add a little powdered sugar (to taste) to cut some of the tartness from the cream cheese.  Once you make these adjustments, the cookies are outstanding!

I should have questioned the fact that there was no leavening agent in these, but I made them anyway. They came out totally flat, and the after-taste from the white chocolate is terrible. I've been baking for 30 years, and have never seen an uglier cookie, or one with less flavor!  I wouldn't recommend anybody try this.  I'll find another recipe to add to my Christmas cookie repertoire, thank you very much.