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Easy Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 108 reviews

This easy thumbprint cookie recipe creates soft, buttery cookies filled with a variety of flavorful jams and nuts. Perfectly baked to a light golden brown, these cookies are customizable with different fillings like raspberry, apricot, blueberry, cranberry, Nutella, or chocolate, making them ideal for sharing with friends or enjoying with your favorite warm beverage.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 2 cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour

Fillings and Toppings

  • 1 1/4 cups fruit or berry preserves or jam (e.g., raspberry, apricot, blueberry, cranberry)
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped nuts (e.g., salted pistachios, roasted almonds, pecans, hazelnuts)
  • Additional options: Nutella hazelnut spread with chopped hazelnuts, chocolate kisses as jam substitute
  • Lemon zest (optional, for blueberry jam variation)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and prepare two large baking trays by lining them with silicone mats or parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Prepare Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, place the softened butter followed by the white and light brown sugars. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars together for 5 to 6 minutes until the mixture is fluffy and creamy.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the vanilla extract, eggs, and sea salt into the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly for a few minutes until the eggs are fully combined.
  4. Add Flour: Add 2 cups of the all-purpose flour into the batter and beat with the mixer. Gradually add the remaining flour, mixing on low speed if using a stand mixer or switching to a wooden spoon, and continue mixing until the dough becomes smooth; it may appear dry and crumbly at first. Use your hands to bring the dough together if needed.
  5. Shape Dough Balls: Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoons or 25 grams), portion the dough into neat balls and place them onto a baking tray.
  6. Add Nuts (Optional): If desired, place finely chopped nuts into a small bowl and gently roll each dough ball in the nuts, then reshape the dough ball with your hands.
  7. Make Thumbprints: Arrange the dough balls on prepared baking sheets spaced about 1 ½ inches apart, as they will not spread. Use the back of a ½-teaspoon measuring spoon or the end of a round wooden rod to press down in the center of each dough ball, creating a deep well for the filling.
  8. Fill Cookies: Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of jam or filling into each thumbprint indentation.
  9. Bake: Bake the cookies at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes, until the bottoms just turn a light golden brown. Be careful not to overbake to keep cookies tender.
  10. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Note that jam fillings become very hot during baking.
  11. Serve and Store: Enjoy these delicious thumbprint cookies with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months.

Notes

  • The dough will look dry and crumbly at first but will come together smoothly with continued mixing and kneading.
  • Cookies do not spread much during baking, so space them close but not touching on the baking sheet.
  • Fillings can be varied with different jams, preserves, nut spreads, or even chocolate kisses instead of jam.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely before storing to prevent sogginess from warm jam.
  • For a twist, add lemon zest to the dough when using blueberry jam for a bright flavor.
  • Freeze cookies in airtight containers to enjoy freshness over several months.

Keywords: thumbprint cookies, jam cookies, jam-filled cookies, easy cookie recipe, buttery cookies, nut topping, homemade cookies

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/easy-thumbprint-cookie-recipe/