Best Christmas Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
These Best Christmas Thumbprint Cookies are buttery, soft, and filled with your choice of raspberry or apricot jam. Perfectly sized and richly flavored with vanilla, they make a delightful holiday treat that's easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Cookies
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup salted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 1 cup jam (raspberry or apricot recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together 1 cup of salted butter, 1 cup of white sugar, and 0.5 teaspoon of baking powder on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add 1 large egg and beat well until fully incorporated. Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Incorporate Flour With the mixer on low speed, gradually add 2.5 cups of all-purpose flour. Mix until just barely combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Shape Dough Balls Roll the dough into 1 inch diameter balls and place them at least 1 inch apart on a baking sheet to allow spreading.
- Create Indentations Immediately make an indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or a rounded tool to create space for the jam filling.
- Fill with Jam Spoon about 1 cup of jam evenly into the indentations, slightly overfilling to accommodate spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes. Rotate the sheet halfway through baking for even cooking.
- Cool Cookies Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Use softened butter at room temperature for easier creaming and better texture.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep cookies tender.
- Feel free to substitute jam flavors according to your preference.
- If dough is sticky, chill for 15 minutes before rolling.
- Rotate the baking sheet halfway during baking for even browning.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
