Peppermint Hot Fudge Thumbprints

Instructions

1. Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on low just to combine the ingredients, then beat on high, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl every now and then, until the mixture is very light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
2. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat on high to fully incorporate, about 1 minute.
3. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt to a separate bowl and stir with a wire whisk to combine. Add to the mixer bowl and mix on low speed just until incorporated.
4. Spread a sheet of plastic wrap out on a work surface and put the cookie dough in the center. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
5. Heat oven to 350 degrees and cover a couple cookie sheets with parchment paper.
6. Shape the dough into tablespoon size balls and place on the cookie sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Using your thumb or the tip of your index finger or the round end of a wooden spoon or ice cream scoop, to make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, for 12 minutes until the cookies are set and small cracks are appearing on their surface.
7. Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use the round end of a wooden spoon or ice cream scoop to tap down the centers of the cookies, which will have risen during baking.
8. Place the pan on a wire rack and let the cookies cool completely on the pan. Repeat with the other pan of cookie dough.
9. When the cookies are completely cool, stir the peppermint extract into the hot fudge. Start with 1 teaspoon of extract, taste, and add more if you like.
10. Using a small spoon, fill the centers of the cookies with dollops of hot fudge.
11. Put the candy canes in a zip top bag and use a rolling pin or mallet to crush them into small pieces. Sprinkle a few pieces of crushed candy canes over the top.
12. Store cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.