Eggnog and Cranberry Thumbprints

Welcome to Day #5 of Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen from Juanita's Cocina! Each day we will be celebrating the holidays with a different set of Christmas-themed treats, as well as a fabulous Christmas giveaway. We hope you enjoy this fabulous event. Tune in each day starting, Monday, December 9th and ending Saturday, December 14th.

For me, it's just not the holidays with out a little eggnog. Truthfully, I can't drink the stuff straight, but I do like the eggnog flavor in things. The year before last, there were Eggnog Pancakes with Cranberry Maple Syrup, and Eggnog and Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls. Last year, I made an Eggnog and Cranberry Christmas Braid. And this year? How about some Eggnog and Cranberry Thumbprints? Ok...I'll admit it...I like a little eggnog and a little cranberry for the holidays....

Want to know a secret? I didn't put any eggnog in my cookies...just eggnog flavors. Think plenty of freshly grated nutmeg.....

Eggnog and Cranberry Thumbprints

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup whole cranberry sauce, drained

Frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons spiced rum (or 2 tablespoons eggnog)

Nutmeg for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.; line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and the vanilla and continue to beat until creamy. Whisk together the flour, nutmeg, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until until just blended.

Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on prepared cookie sheets. Use your thumb to make indentations in each cookie. Fill each indentation with about 3/4 teaspoon cranberry sauce. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Cool completely before frosting.

Leftover cranberry sauce? I can't think of a better use for it. Just set it in a strainer to drain while you are making the cookie dough.

For the frosting, beat together the butter, powdered sugar and spiced rum or eggnog. Pipe the frosting on the cooled cookies using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Sprinkle each frosted cookie with more nutmeg.

Be sure to cool those cookies completely or the frosting is going to melt. I wouldn't know anything about that first hand....

Visit all the other Christmas Week Peeps for more Holiday Baking Goodness:

■     Christmas Fudge by Cravings of a Lunatic

■     Peanut Butter Cup Fudge by Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

■     Peppermint Mocha Tart by See Aimee Cook

■     Peanut Brittle by Noshing With The Nolands

■     Spiced Cranberry Holiday Margaritasby Pineapple and Coconut

■     Turtle Bark by The Girl In The little Red Kitchen

■     Peppermint Stick Ice Cream Sauce by Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker

■     Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate by My Catholic Kitchen

■     Pomegranate-Ginger Champagne Cocktailby The Little Ferraro Kitchen

■     Kletzenbrot – Christmas Fruit Bread from Tyrol by Masala Herb

■     Spiked Butterscotch Hot Chocolate by Dizzy Busy and Hungry

■     Frozen Mint Cookie Pie by The Messy Baker

■     Stuffed Nut Roll Cookies by Rants From My Crazy Kitchen

■     Irish Cream Tiramisu by Cooking In Stilettos

■     Lemon Sandwich Cookies by Try Anything Once Culinary

■     Orange Creamsicle Fudge by Home Cooking Memories

■     Stained Glass Window Cookies by Like Mother Like Daughter

■     Eggnog and Cranberry Thumbprints by The Dutch Baker’s Daughter

Today's #ChristmasWeek giveaway comes courtesy of Freund Container & Supply. Freund Container & Supply has been helping build businesses since 1938 as the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers, and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5,000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping, and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs!

Today's winner will receive one $250 Freund gift certificate, as well as one copy of "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays". To enter, read the details and use the Rafflecopter below!

***This giveaway is for one $250 gift certificate to Freund Container & Supply, as well as one copy of "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays". Gift certificate is a one-time use certificate and must be used in its entirety; any leftover monies on the gift certificate will be forfeited. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. However, it should be noted that due to current International shipping rates, any Canadian winners will pay higher shipping costs for orders. ***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Disclaimer: This gift certificate is being provided by Freund Container & Supply, while the cookbook has been provided by Juanita's Cocina. #ChristmasWeek bloggers have not received product or been compensated as a part of this giveaway.***