Espresso Thumbprint Cookies

Recipe posted by blondeGeek?

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
Espresso Filling (recipe follows)
Directions

Preheat oven to 350º F. Beat sugar, butter, vanilla, and egg in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour, cocoa, and salt.

Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb or end of wooden spoon into center of each cookie, but do not press all the way to the cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm. Quickly, remake indentations with end of wooden spoon if necessary. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make Espresso Filling.

Spoon a rounded 1/2 teaspoon of Espresso Filling into the indentation of each cookie.
Espresso Filling
Ingredients
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tablespoon coffee-flavored liquor
Directions
Mix whipping cream and instant coffee in a 1-quart saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and coffee is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Stir in liquor. Cool about 10 minutes or until thickened.