Butterballs

Subject: Butterballs Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:49 pm

Butterballs

Vanilla Sugar

1/2 vanilla bean

1 cup sugar

Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup raspberry jam or chocolate ganache

Vanilla sugar

Split vanilla bean, scrape out seeds. In a small bowl, whisk vanilla bean, seeds, and sugar

Cover and let stand overnight

Cookies

In a large bowl, beat with mixer butter until creamy, about 3 minutes

Beat in sugar until light and fluffy

Beat in flour just until blended

Shape dough into a disk

Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm at least 3 hours or overnight

Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls place on a large rimmed baking sheet and freeze 30 minutes

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375F

Line 2 large cookies sheets with parchment paper

Place balls on prepared sheets,

1 inch apart

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or just until firm

Cool completely on pans on wire racks

Spread flat side of half of cookie with jam or Chocolate Ganache

Top with remaining cookies to form Sandwiches

Roll cookies in Vanilla Sugar to coat

Chocolate Ganache

Put 3 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped in a bowl in a sauce pan heat 1/3 cup heavy cream over medium-high heat just until small bubbles appear around edge of pan

Pour cream over chocolate whisk until smooth

Cool at least 20 minutes

Whisking occasionally, or until thickened