Valentine’s Thumbprint Cookies

Instructions

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1. - Bake the CookiesIn the bowl of a stand mixer (or large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer), add softened butter and mix until creamy.
2. - Add brown sugar and granulated sugar and mix at medium speed until well-combined. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until ingredients are all well-incorporated.
3. - Add flour, cornstarch, and salt to a separate mixing bowl and whisk together.
4. - With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture until the ingredients are completely combined.
5. - Cover the bowl and chill dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
6. - When dough is done chilling, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. - Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into 1 tablespoon size balls, rolling with your hands to create an even, round shape.
8. - Place the ball onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently, but firmly, use the bottom side of an oblong measuring spoon to press down two times to make a heart-shaped indent, flattening the cookie as you press down (if needed, use your hands to re-smooth and round out any edges that may have cracked while pressing down). Repeat until you have 12 cookies on each baking sheet, placed about 2 inches apart.
9. - Bake in the preheated oven for 10-11 minutes or until the bottom of the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
10. - Place the baking sheet on a wire cooling grid. If needed, while the cookies are still hot from the oven, use the measuring spoon to carefully (as the cookies and baking sheet will be hot) press down the heart-shaped indents again to define the shape after the cookie rise in the baking process. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before decorating.
11. - Decorate the CookiesPlace a wire cooling grid over a baking sheet to use as a decorating surface and set aside.
12. - With the cooled cookies still on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper, one color at a time, melt Red and Pink Candy Melts according to package directions. If needed, mix in some EZ Thin Dipping Aid for Candy Melts Candy for a smooth texture. Place melted candy into a disposable decorating bag with the tip snipped off, and fill the heart indents on the cookies with the melted candy (half the cookies with Red, half the cookies with Pink, being careful not to overfill the indents). Jiggle the cookies to allow the candy to flow into an even layer, filling the indentations. Allow the candy to set for 15 minutes before the next step.
13. - After the hearts have set, one color at a time, melt Light Cocoa and Bright White Candy Melts according to package directions. If needed, mix in some EZ Thin Dipping Aid for Candy Melts Candy for a smooth and drizzly texture. Place melted candy into a disposable decorating bag with the tip snipped off (or fitted with a #2 round tip), and drizzle thin stripes across one side of each cookie (using Light Cocoa on half of the cookies and Bright White on the remaining cookies). Working just 2 cookies at a time to avoid the Candy Melts drying too fast: While the candy is still wet, place the cookie on the decorating cooling grid on top of the baking sheet and sprinkle with sprinkles from the 6-Cell Valentine's Sprinkles Mix and Confetti Hearts Sprinkles (the baking sheet will catch any excess sprinkles). Allow Candy Melts to set completely before serving.