Thumbprint Cookies

When you want to bake an impressive dessert that looks tough to make but actually offers an easy recipe, choose these cookies.

This reliable thumbprint cookies recipe turns out 48 perfect rounds every time.

Use the recipe as-is for some of the best thumbprint cookies ever. The icing centers remind me of birthday cake.

You can easily alter the center ingredient to make them with your favorite jam or candy.

The best thumbprint cookies look fancy but take a little time to make. That makes them the perfect cookie for gift-giving.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I love Thumbprint Cookies?

• I love thumbprint cookies for the immense variety the recipe provides. I can change the jam or icing in the center to suit my mood.
• These cookies keep well in the cookie jar or in the fridge, so I can make a batch and count on them for dessert for days.

What are Thumbprint Cookies?

The thumbprint print cookie, a sugar cookie with a jam or other sweet center, takes its name from the traditional way to make the indentation for the sweet center. The baker uses their thumb to hollow out the cookie center.

Why did my Thumbprint Cookies turn out soggy?

Once stored, even the best thumbprint cookies can turn soggy from the jam centers. Storing them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator helps avoid this. Some bakers recommend using metal tins for storage, too.

Cookies can sometimes become soggy while cooling if overlapped on a wire rack. Avoid overlapping cookies.

Can I put jam topping onto my Thumbprint Cookies?

Jam and thumbprint cookies inherently go together. Use your favorite flavor to make these cookies more delectable to you. You can also put chocolate or icing in the thumbprint center.

How to serve Thumbprint Cookies?

Plate two to four thumbprint cookies together and serve with milk for dunking. These delicious morsels also offer an ideal complement to a bowl of ice cream.

Cooking Tips:

• Soften, but don’t melt the butter used in the cookie recipe. Softened butter does a better job of holding a round cookie shape, an imperative with these jam-packed cookies.
• Use a cookie scoop to ensure each cookie uses the same amount of dough. Roll each dough ball by hand until it has no cracks in it.
• For the best results after baking, let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for one or two minutes before transferring them to a wire rack for cooling.

Variations:

One popular variation of the thumbprint cookie uses chocolate miniatures, such as Hershey’s chocolate kisses, as the center. Other options include using sprinkles or M&M candies in the center. Add chocolate to the cookie dough for a double chocolate taste.

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

• Butter
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Sprinkles

For the icing:

• Milk
• Confectioners sugar
• Food coloring

How to make Thumbprint Cookies:

Step 1. Mix the butter, granulated sugar and vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl.

Then add the all-purpose flour.

Step 2. In another mixing bowl, combine the butter-sugar, and vanilla, and beat until fluffy.

Step 3. Add the flour mixture into the mixing bowl, and blend until a thick dough forms.

Step 4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for an hour.

Step 5. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Step 6. Roll the dough into 4 dozen balls.

Step 7. Press the balls of dough into the sprinkles.

Step 8. Using your thumb or another utensil, push down on the center of each cookie ball to form an indentation in the middle.

Step 9. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven, press the indentation into the center of each cookie again, and continue baking for another 8-10 minutes.

Step 10. Let the cookies cool to room temperature.

Step 11. Mix together the ingredients for the icing, using the food coloring of your choice, and pipe the icing into the center of each cookie. Let sit overnight before serving.

SAVE this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

How to store Thumbprint Cookies?

Store these filled cookies in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. If you keep them in a cookie jar, they’ll last about three days before drying out. These cookies also store well in the freezer in an air-tight container with wax paper between the layers of cookies so they don’t stick together.

How to reheat Thumbprint Cookies?

If you just want one piping hot cookie, wrap it in a damp paper towel and heat it in the microwave for five seconds at a time until your cookie reaches the desired consistency and heat.

Heat a few cookies at a time in the toaster oven or oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cookies on a wire rack. Under the rack, slip a tray of water. Mist the top of the cookies with water. Reheat the cookies for about five minutes.

How long do Thumbprint Cookies last in the fridge?

Thumbprint cookies typically last for up to five days in the fridge. If you need them to last longer, pop them in the freezer.

Can I make ahead Thumbprint Cookies?

These cookies remain soft and chewy for three to five days, so you can certainly make them a day or so before you need to serve them.

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