These classic thumbprint cookies are made with a simple sugar cookie dough, rolled in sparkling sugar, and then indented and filled with your choice of jam! These are an all-time favorite cookie recipe, and the filling options are absolutely endless!
We had our first snow here this past weekend! It was a light snow that’s pretty much all melted away by now, but Saturday (which also happened to be my birthday) was beautiful. It was so cozy in my kitchen with the glow from the Christmas tree and Christmas music playing, and to top everything off I had a batch of these thumbprint cookies baking in the oven, which I shared that evening when my family came over.
Even though the birthday cake that Zach made me was the dessert star of the show, I also had these thumbprint cookies out for a bite-sized treat option (because you can’t have too many desserts), and everyone loved them. Even Andi liked them, though she only ate the edges of the cookies and wouldn’t eat the jam filling because of seeds (I’d think that was ridiculous if I wasn’t exactly the same way at her age).
These thumbprint cookies are easy to make and the taste is incredible — they have soft, sweet interiors, sugared exteriors (though you can leave off the sugar if you’d like) and jam filled centers. Let’s get started on how to make the perfect thumbprint cookies.
Tips for perfect thumbprint cookies:
- For perfectly soft cookies that don’t spread: Whenever possible, I recommend using a scale to measure out your ingredients. It is so, so easy to over-measure or under-measure flour when using cups, causing your cookies to be too hard or to spread when they shouldn’t. If you don’t have a scale already, here is the one that I use in my own kitchen (affiliate link), it’s inexpensive and accurate and I can’t even bake without it anymore.
- For thumbprints that don’t crack: This dough is firm enough that you should be able to roll it into balls right after mixing it together (no chilling). Roll the balls between your hands until they are really, really smooth and there are no lines or cracks in the dough. Roll the cookie dough in sugar (optional) and then gently use your thumb or a teaspoon to slowly press an indent into the cookie. If you see the dough starting to crack anyway, you can usually press the dough back together successfully!
- Thumbprint Cookie Filling: I know that not all recipes do this, but I recommend adding the jam/preserves (you can use either) before baking the cookies. If the jam is too firm and isn’t easy to drop into the cookies, then place it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave for just a few seconds, just until it is easy to stir (you don’t want the jam to be hot, just more fluid and cooperative).
- Another tip to prevent spreading: This is a good rule of thumb for just about every cookie recipe. Never place your cookies on a hot cookie sheet. Make sure your cookie sheet has cooled completely before placing your next batch of cookies, otherwise they’ll start melting before they can start baking, and they’re much more likely to spread.
I used raspberry preserves in this recipe and really loved the way that the slightly tart raspberry flavor melded with the sweet sugar cookie bases. You can use any variety of jam or preserves that you prefer, though, I know that apricot and strawberry are popular options. You can also definitely opt for a seedless option, I liked the texture of the raspberry seeds (something my 12 year old self would be in utter shock to hear), but know that not everyone does!
As I mentioned above, I really recommend adding the jam before baking the cookies, but if you forget you can add it afterwards (you’ll need to re-indent the cookies immediately after they come out of the oven with a rounded teaspoon if you wait). As the cookies cool the jam will settle and firm up, and while it’ll remain slightly tacky even when cooled, they’re still firm enough that I stacked these thumbprint cookies on a platter to serve them over the weekend.
Enjoy, and I’d love to know what your favorite filling is!
If you like thumbprint cookies, make sure to check out my bourbon-infused chocolate version, my peanut butter and chocolate version, and my key-lime version!
Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ⅓ cup (70 g) sugar
- ⅓ cup (70 g) light brown sugar, tightly packed
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cup (280 g) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspooons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar for rolling (optional)
- ⅓ cup (105 g) jam or preserves flavor of your choice -- I used raspberry preserves for this recipe
Instructions
- Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer (you may instead use a large bowl and an electric hand mixer) and beat until creamy.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add sugars, and beat, gradually increasing mixer speed to medium-high until ingredients are well-combined (about 30-60 seconds).⅓ cup (70 g) sugar, ⅓ cup (70 g) light brown sugar, tightly packed
- Add egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat well.1 large egg yolk, ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt.2 ¼ cup (280 g) all purpose flour, 2 teaspooons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon salt
- With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients until completely combined. This dough will seem very dry and crumbly, so be sure to pause occasionally to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. If it starts to strain your mixer you can use your hands to finish working the dough together.
- Scoop cookie dough into 1 Tablespoon-sized balls and roll very well (so that the dough is round and there are no cracks/seams in the cookie dough -- this will help keep your thumbprints from cracking).
- Roll in granulated sugar (if using) and place on a wax-paper covered plate or small cookie sheet. Use your thumb or the rounded back of a teaspoon to gently press an indent in the center of the cookie dough. Repeat until all of the dough has been used.½ cup sugar
- Transfer cookie dough to freezer and chill for 30 minutes.
- Once dough is done chilling, preheat oven to 375F (190C) and place your jam in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat briefly (about 5-10 seconds) or until jam is not hot but is no longer firm and is easy to stir.⅓ cup (105 g) jam or preserves
- Spoon jam into each thumbprint, filling each indent to the brim.
- Once oven is preheated, place cookies at least 2" apart on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake on 375F (190C) for 11 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before enjoying.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
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Jayden
I have been making these for three years! They are my most requested cookie in my cookie boxes! I love love love these!!!
Theresa
For those that had their cookies turn out flat, make sure you are using good quality butter not store brand as it contains a lot of water.Make sure the cookies are chilled enough. I also cooked them at 350
kristen
I am NOT a baker, but I followed the recipe to a T (including using a scale) and they turned out great! I only rolled a few of them in the sugar and noticed they didn’t spread as much when baking. Is that common? If so, I will use the sugar moving forward as I prefer them smaller. Otherwise I will just make smaller balls and have more cookies 😉
Sam Merritt
Thank you so much for trying my recipe Kristen! I’m glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 Honestly I would expect the ones rolled in sugar to spread a bit more so I’m honestly a bit perplexed.
kristen
Oh, funny! Well, regardless of being bog or small they’re soooo good!
Charity
These were easy to make and so delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
Sarah
These are unbelievably good. The cookie base itself was delicious and we used strawberry preserves in the center. This was the first time my kiddos had thumbprint cookies and it’s a fan favorite now! We put this recipe in our family recipe book even!
Jaylen Manning
Hey Sam!
This is my second time making them, and they are perfection! However, I am delivering them to a friend for the holiday season tomorrow. Should I refrigerate them? Freeze them? Or, leave them in the airtight container at room temperature?
Sam Merritt
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed them so much, Jaylen! Thank you for trying my recipe! You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. 🙂
Ellen Greenwald
Perfection! My favorite Christmas cookie ever! Buttery and creamy and raspberry jam balances out tastes amazingly!
Diana Fernandes
I am not so much into baking cookies. I had received a Xmas gift of raspberry and strawberry preserves. Hence, I was scouting for a recipe and serendipitously, watched your video and was drawn in as you delightfully and lucidly made it seem doable.
I just baked these amazing thumbprint cookies, and they turned out great!
I added two tablespoons of cream cheese to the softened butter and followed the rest of the recipe as given.
Thank you for the amazing video and the recipe! Will be my Xmas baking staple
Kris
Make these every year and every year they’re delicious and gone quickly!
Angi
I’m making these tomorrow, my in-laws favor apricot so I use that and raspberry usually.
Kathy
Can this dough be made a few days ahead and kept in the refrigerator? Then brought to room temperature and continue on at step 6?
Sam Merritt
Hi Kathy! I would recommend rolling and making the imprints before refrigerating for several days. 🙂
Pam Heise
These cookies are so buttery and wonderful, even without the jelly!
Stephanie Sprague
Mine froze solid putting them in freezer for exactly 30 minutes. No waiting for them to thaw to actually put my thumbprint in then smh. I should have checked after 15 minutes
Sam Merritt
I’m so sorry to hear this happened, Stephanie! Was your dough really cold when you put it in the freezer? I’ve never had them even be close to frozen solid after only 30 minutes. 🙁
Stephanie Sprague
So I read the directions wrong. I didn’t know that I was supposed to put the thumbprint in before freezing. Yes they were solid. I ended up letting them sit out, added the thumbprint when soft enough. put them back in the freezer for less time and it all worked out in the end. thanks for reaching out. Idk if because I had them Im my chest freezer just made them freeze faster or what……..it doesn’t matter though they were delicious in the end that’s all that matters. Merry Christmas
Haley
Recipe was easy to put together and the dough turned out cohesive and soft and pliable. I doubled the recipe and ended up with 39 cookies. I did two batches in the oven- they did grow but thankfully they didn’t all stick together. They’re very pretty. Thanks for the recipe, Sam! Another great bake!
Josh
Delicious, just delicious! I followed the recipe except I didn’t have light brown sugar so I used dark brown.