James M. Barrie, the legendary author of “Peter Pan,” once said, “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” In a world burdened with wars, chaos, violence and general cruelty, those people are as cherished today as they were in the early 20th century when the playwright and novelist made the observation. 

One way of bringing a bit of sunshine to others is by baking something for them. Even better would be inviting them to have tea and baked goods. If you would prefer the latter, this recipe for sunshine thumbprint cookies may help your tea to shine.

One thing that makes these sunshine thumbprint cookies a bit healthier than some other types of cookies and most store-bought cookies is their lack of artificial ingredients. Even with the lemon curd, they also have less inflammation-causing sugar than many cookies. And in both cases, less is definitely more.

An ingredient that provides a bit of nutrition is the egg found in both the curd and the cookies. Eggs are filled with nutrients. They’re excellent sources of protein, selenium, vitamins B5, B12, and B2. 

Finally, cardamom is a healthy spice. Nutrients found in the spice include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Additionally, it contains vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12 as well as iron, zinc, copper and manganese. And its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are believed to be able to support heart health, reduce inflammation, heal infections, and fight cancer.

Sunshine Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients:

1 ½  cups of flour

1 tsp. of baking powder 

2 tsp. of cardamom 

½  cup of granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. of vanilla extract

     ½ cup (1 stick) of salted butter (slightly softened)

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.

In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.

Add the egg and vanilla to the butter mixture, and combine.

Gradually combine the mixed dry ingredients with the mixed wet ingredients.

Use a cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet.

Form each scoop of dough into a ball, and gently press a thumbprint into the center of each one.

Bake at 350 degrees for around 12-14 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes before transferring to cooling racks or plates. Just before serving, fill each thumbprint with lemon curd. It’s best to only use the curd for the cookies that will be eaten in a sitting due to the egg in the curd. Enjoy!

Makes about 30 cookies

Through his work, James M. Barrie knew quite a bit about spreading sunshine. Bakers and others are invited to follow in his footsteps. Happy (healthier) baking!