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Classic thumbprint cookies with red jam centers on a wooden board.

Thumbprint Cookies

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5 from 7 reviews

Description

These classic thumbprint cookies feature a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread base finished with a sweet, glassy jam center. This modernized vintage recipe streamlines the process to deliver a professional-looking treat with the perfect balance of crumble and fruitiness in under an hour.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup fruit jam (raspberry, apricot, or strawberry)
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar (for rolling)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for icing)
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a rubber spatula to cream together 1/3 cup powdered sugar and softened butter until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  3. Stir in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, fine salt, and almond extract, mixing until the color is uniform and ingredients are fully combined.
  4. Add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients and blend with the spatula until the dough just comes together into a soft mass.
  5. Portion the dough into 1/2-ounce balls using a small scoop, roll each in white granulated sugar, and place them several inches apart on the baking sheet.
  6. Create an indentation in the center of each ball using the end of a wooden spoon for a rounder shape or your thumb for a wider, shallower well.
  7. Spoon your chosen jam into the centers, tap the tray to settle the filling, and bake for 15 minutes until the edges are a very light golden brown.
  8. Let the cookies rest on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool, then whisk the icing ingredients and pipe a zigzag pattern over the tops.

Notes

To ensure your cookies have a perfectly smooth finish, use a high-quality preserve or jam rather than a jelly, which can sometimes become too liquid in the oven. If you prefer a very clean look, you can slightly warm the jam in the microwave for a few seconds before filling to help it settle into a glassy pool without air bubbles. These cookies stay fresh and tender for several days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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Find it online: https://cookiesfresh.com/thumbprint-cookies-recipe/