Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies

I came across this recipe awhile back, pinned it on Pinterest and then completely forgot about it (that's never happened to you either, right?!).  A week or so ago, I was doing a big group baking session and really wanted something different and went searching around on my Pinterest.  I came across these and at first thought they were more work than I wanted.  I ultimately ended up deciding to give them a try and let me tell you!  First, they really weren't difficult or time consuming at all and second, they were AMAZEBALLS!  Make these for your next cookie exchange, you won't regret it!  Please excuse my iPhone photography - I left my big girl camera at home!

Enjoy!

Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies

3/4 Cup Butter, softened
1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
1 Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder

Filling:
1 Cup Pecans, chopped
1 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/8 Tsp (pinch) Ginger
1/8 Tsp Cinnamon
1/8 Tsp Cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

For cookie dough; combine butter and brown sugar - mixing until fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, mix until combined.  Add flour and baking powder, mix until combined and dough pulls together.  Set dough aside.

For filling; in a separate mixing bowl, mix pecans, brown sugar, and spices together.  Add cream and vanilla, mix until well combined.

Roll out cookie dough in 1.25" balls (I use a cookie scoop to measure them out) and space about 2" apart on your pan.  Once you have rolled all the cookie dough into balls, make an indentation in the center of each, rolling your thumb around to slowly stretch the dough out. Fill each indentation with approximately a teaspoon of the pecan filling.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are brown.  Let cool on pan for 5 minutes or so before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Makes approximately 20 cookies.