Thumbprint Cookies
Published on December 06, 2022
Quick Summary
Thumbprint Cookies-buttery shortbread cookies rolled in sugar and filled with sweet raspberry jam! These beautiful little cookies are a classic Christmas cookie, but can be enjoyed anytime of the year.
I love creating new cookie recipes, but I also love the classics. One of our favorite cookies to make at Christmas time are Thumbprint Cookies. They are a holiday favorite and a great addition to any cookie platter.
So what are Thumbprint Cookies? If you haven’t had a jam thumbprint, you are in for a real treat! They are buttery, tender shortbread cookies with a sweet jam center. I like to use raspberry jam because it is sweet, tart, and I love the deep red color. But you can fill the thumbprints with your favorite jam!
They cookies are simple, but elegant and super delicious. You can’t go wrong with a classic!
Table of Contents
Cookie Ingredients
Simple ingredients come together to make the most amazing cookies!
- Flour– use all-purpose flour!
- Salt– to bring flavor to the cookies.
- Butter– Use unsalted butter and make sure it isn’t too soft or melted. You want the butter at cool room temperature.
- Sugar– you will need granulated sugar for the cookie dough and for rolling the cookies before baking.
- Brown sugar– I like to use a little brown sugar for flavor and to keep the cookies tender and not dry.
- Egg yolk– an egg yolk creates a rich cookie and holds everything together.
- Vanilla extract– a must! If you like almond extract, you can add ¼ teaspoon to the dough.
- Jam– I prefer raspberry jam, but any flavor will do! Make sure you use a nice, thick jam! Splurge to get a good quality jam since it’s a big part of the cookie! If your jam is SUPER thick, you can put it in a bowl and give it a good stir. If it is still too thick, heat it in the microwave for just a few seconds to loosen it up.
How to Make Thumbprint Cookies
These little gems are easy to make and SO pretty!
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside.
- Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to beat the butter and sugars together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Don’t over mix the dough!
- Roll the dough into balls, about 1 ½ teaspoons per cookie. Place the remaining ½ cup sugar in a small bowl. Roll the balls in the sugar until well coated.
- Place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat, you may need 2 sheets.
- Use the rounded back of a teaspoon or your thumb to gently press an indentation in the center each cookie dough ball. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven so it is hot and ready to go!
- Fill a small zipper-lock bag with the jam. Use scissors to snip a small corner off the bag. Carefully fill each indentation with about a ½ teaspoon of jam. Alternatively, you can use a small spoon or teaspoon to fill the centers with jam. Don’t over fill or the jam will ooze out in the oven. Less is best!
- Make sure the cookies are 2-inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake one pan at a time, for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown.
How to Store Thumbprint Cookies
Store the cooled thumbprint cookies in an airtight container at room temperature on the counter. You don’t have to refrigerate the cookies. I don’t recommend stacking the cookies because of the jam.
These cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
How to Freeze Thumbprint Cookies
If you want to freeze cookies, I recommend freezing the unbaked cookies before adding jam.
Make the cookie dough and form them into thumbprints. Place the cookies on a tray and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes to an hour. Once frozen, transfer the the unbaked cookies to a freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to one month.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven and arrange the cookies on the baking sheets. Fill with jam and bake. It’s ok if the cookies are still a little frozen when going into the oven, you might have to add an additional minute to the baking time.
Thumbprint Cookie FAQ
Make sure you use a thick jam and not a runny jam. I prefer raspberry jam, but strawberry, blackberry, apricot, or mixed berry are all good options. Use your favorite flavor.
Yes! If you don’t care for jam, fill the cookies with melted chocolate, lemon curd, salted caramel sauce, marmalade, or Nutella.
Fill the cookies with jam before baking so it can set up in the oven.
Make sure when you are pressing the back of the teaspoon or your thumb into the center of the cookie dough you don’t press too hard. Gently press! If the edges of the cookie start to crack a little, you can gently press it back together.
Make sure your butter isn’t too soft when making the dough. It should be at cool room temperature and not super soft or greasy. Also, don’t make your cookies too big, thumbprints are smaller cookies. And most importantly, make sure you you chill the dough! After you form the cookies, place the unbaked cookies in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will prevent them from spreading.
Yes! I recommend freezing the unbaked cookies before you fill them with jam. See above for my tips!
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Easy Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Andes Mint Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Chocolate Kiss Cookies
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
- Baking Sheets (I love these cookie sheets!)
- Stand Mixer (I'm obsessed with my KitchenAid)
- Silpat Baking Mat (these prevent cookies from sticking)
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup thick raspberry jam, or jam of your choice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed. Add ½ cup of the granulated sugar and brown sugar and mix until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined.
- Roll the dough into balls, about 1 ½ teaspoons per cookie. Place the remaining ½ cup sugar in a small bowl. Roll the balls in the sugar until well coated.
- Place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat, you may need 2 sheets.
- Use the rounded back of a teaspoon or your thumb to gently press an indentation in the center each cookie dough ball. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Fill a small zipper-lock bag with the jam. Use scissors to snip a small corner off the bag. Carefully fill each indentation with about a ½ teaspoon of jam. Don't over fill or the jam will ooze out in the oven. Less is best!
- Make sure the cookies are 2-inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake one pan at a time, for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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Incredible. My coworker said “I don’t mean to be dramatic, but those cookies gave me goosebumps!”
Thank you for taking the time to share! I am SO glad the cookies were a hit! I love that quote:)
Hi! I’ve noticed that some recipes include corn starch, does it make a big difference not adding it?
The cookies were so good!
Hi, is the almond extract in addition to the vanilla, or in place of the vanilla? Thanks!
If you want to add almond extract, I would still include some vanilla. I would do 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and either 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract…depending on how strong you want the almond flavor. Enjoy!
Hi, can I prepare the dough today(Thursday) and bake Saturday? If so, what do you recommend?
Yes, keep it chilled in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap.
The almond extract is in addition. It gives it the store bought taste.
Oh my goodness! These cookies are delicious and buttery! So easy to make and we’re a hit. This year I made all my Christmas cookies from your recipes and this is one of my favorites!!
I am thrilled you loved the thumbprints! Thanks for sharing!
These were amazing! Every Christmas I try a new cookie recipe and this is the one I chose for 2021. They were so so good!
Can I use the image at the top of your website to use for my YouTube video? I will also give this website credit in the description when I post the video.
This is by far the best thumbprint recipe I’ve ever used. I use solo filling because it doesn’t spread as much as jam. Thanks for sharing a great recipe.
They are the best!
What to do if I don’t have freezer space for
2 sheet pans to chill for 30 mins.?
You can chill in the fridge for longer.
I see your freezing instructions but wondering if you have to thaw them out before you fill and bake them?
The cookies are good but too small. I know these cookies are supposed to be on the small side but 1 1/2 teaspoons is not enough dough, in my opinion. I froze them so now I’m stuck with teenie-tiny cookies Next time I will double the amount of dough per cookie.
I agree! I made mine with at least a tablespoon and a half dough per cookie (instead of teaspoon and half as recipe recommended) and they turned out great! About two inches in diameter. It would take way too long to roll such teensy amount per cookie if you want my two cents.
Have made jam thumbprints way way back. Always a favorite. The recipe I remember dipped the cookie ball into an egg whites & then rolled into finely chopped walnuts before pressing in the thumbprint & adding the jam, always raspberry. Will have to make these again .
My mother made these like your mother did, Bonnie. Because the chopped nuts made them look like a bird’s nest, she called them Bird’s Nest Cookies. When she made them as the recipe on this site, she called them thumbprints.
I made these cookies as a test run because it was requested that I make some for a bridal shower. They turned out fantastic!!
Oh good! Perfect for a celebration!
Delicious! These yummy cookies got me first prize, in a cookie bake off at work!
Oops, for got to give them 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you!! I appreciate you leaving a comment and rating!
Baked these yesterday for the first time. They came out perfect. They may be my new favorite holiday cookie.
So happy you loved them! They are a wonderful holiday cookie.
Mine is so crumbly for some reason, I can’t get the balls to stay in one piece. I’m in Denver so I’m wondering if the elevation is effecting it? I put the dough in the fridge for a little so I’m hoping it’s easier to roll after it chills a bit.
Sorry! It might be an altitude issue. I hope chilling helps!
Wonderful cookies! I made them for a cookie exchange and a craftmas. I did indulge and added a little more butter but the original recipe is great too!
So glad you loved the cookies. A classic!
Flavor good, added almond extract and hershey kisses chocolate. Watch sugar quantities- for rolling in end. Dough dries quickly but good favor. Put rack higher bot on bottom. Colored sugar is festive. Dough should freeze but it cracks when baking so don’t think I would freeze and top kater.
Making these! Question tho, when do I add in the brown sugar. Do I combine with the granulated sugar?
Thank you!
See step 2.
First time making any sort of shortbread cookie and these came out perfect. My boyfriend absolutely devoured them (his favorite cookie) and so many others asked if I had really made these. The only change I made was using a 1 tablespoon scoop as 1.5 teaspoon seemed very small and they came out great and made 36 cookies.
I’ve made this recipe 3 or 4 times at this point and ever time people rave about them!
Yahoo!
Hi,
Can you make this cookie recipe using a thumbprint cookie press?
Thank you,
Karen
Why did mine get flat? I followed the recipe and chilled and they flattened out like pancakes
This is honestly one of the best cookie recipes! They were so buttery and soft!
I am so glad you loved the cookies!
Great except the measurements for the balls threw me off. I ended up using a Pampered chef ball scoop thingy to get a better size. Everyone loved the taste!