thumbprint cookies the ultimate best!

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 – egg yolk (reserve egg white for glossing the tops of the cookies if you want)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (or other nut if you wish) *optional
1/2 cup jam, preserves, spreads of your choosing. *see notes in directions

- Step 1
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend flour and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 2

In a separate mixer, whip butter, that has been at room temperature, until light and fluffy.
Step 3

Add the sugar, and blend until light and fluffy. Add in the egg yolk and blend. Add the vanilla and blend.
Step 4

Add in the flour and salt mixture and beat until blended. If adding the nuts, add them next and blend until it forms a dough ball. This is easier with a Kitchen Aid blender.
Step 5

With the dough, take small teaspoon size portions and roll them into little balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet (or parchment-lined cookie sheet). Make them small and space them on the cookie sheets (they grow when they cook!).