Holiday Cookies

I found these recipes in the Martha Stewart Living magazine, Holiday issue. Actually they are a kind of variation of the recipes, but yummy non-the-less.


Spiced Thumbprint Cookies with Vanilla Ganache


Spiced Cookies
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks of butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1.5 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground pepper.


Directions:
(Dough)
1. Mix together flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and pepper in a large bowl.
2. Beat butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low.
3. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined.
*The dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 1 month.
(Baking)
4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Press a well into the center of each using your finger.
5. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
6. Bake at 350° for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, and press well again with handle end of a wooden spoon or something with the desired size and shape.
7. Bake again until firm, about 7 to 9 minutes.


Vanilla White Chocolate Ganache
1 cup heavy cream
8 oz. white chocolate, chopped


Directions
1. Simmer the cream in a small saucepan.
2. Gently pour the cream over the chopped chocolate in a medium sized bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Stir until smooth. Let stand until mixture is spoonable, about 15 minutes.
4. Once the cookies are completely cooled, spoon mixture into the wells.