Name: Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup (8oz/225g) butter, room temperature; ⅔ cup (5oz/142g) granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon almond extract; 2 cups (10oz/282g) all purpose flour; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ cup (2½oz/75g) raspberry jam

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Thumbprint Cookies are one of my favorite Christmas Cookies to bake during the holiday season. Whether I’m baking up treats to give as gifts or just to have at my own family get-together, homemade sweets are a must, and these little cookies are always a big hit!

What are thumbprint cookies?

Thumbprint Cookies are an absolute classic, beloved by all, but not always homemade. These delightful sweet and fruity cookies are way easier to make than they look. These cookies are simply made with a super buttery and rich sugar cookie dough, filled with a touch of fruity jam, in this case raspberry. There really is nothing like the rich and flaky texture of this special cookie, with that soft, fruity, jammy center. You will love to give these cookies as gifts as they really are so impressive. No one will believe you made them at home.

[If you’re looking for a great recipe for jam you have to check out my 3 Microwave Jam Recipes.]

How to make thumbprint cookies

The best part of this Thumbprint Cookie recipe is that it is made from only 5 basic ingredients, butter, flour, sugar, almond extract and raspberry jam. Apart from the jam, all the ingredients are mixed up in one bowl, then formed into little balls. Next you press into them with your thumb, creating that perfect little well, this is where they get their name.

What to fill thumbprint cookies with

To each well, drop in the tiniest bit of raspberry jam, but you can really use any fruit jam your like. After each thumbprint is filled with jam these cookies bake for just 15 minutes. This makes them the perfect holiday cookie, they are minimal effort, maximum impact and of course full of flavor! Give these a try and I guarantee they will become an instant family favorite.

Have you seen my Holiday Baking Headquarters page? You’ll find every recipe you could possibly need for the holidays including Christmas Cookies, edible gifts and my best holiday baking tips!

If you like these you’ll love these other classic holiday cookies!

Follow Bigger Bolder Baking on Pinterest for more recipes and ideas!

Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies

4.66 from 46 votes

Print Recipe

My thumbprint cookies are buttery, fruity and festive, perfect for gifting no matter what the holiday occasion.

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: cookies

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

My thumbprint cookies are buttery, fruity and festive, perfect for gifting no matter what the holiday occasion.

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: cookies

Ingredients

1 cup (8oz/225g) butter, room temperature
⅔ cup (5oz/142g) granulated sugar
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 cups (10oz/282g) all purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup (2½oz/75g) raspberry jam

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, granulated sugar and almond extract.
Beat at medium speed until evenly combined. Scrape sides of mixing bowl as needed.
Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour and salt. Mix until a dough is formed. Pull the dough together into a ball, cover with cling wrap and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
After 1 hour preheat oven to 350oF (180oC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the dough using a tablespoon scoop. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared pan. Make an indentation in the center of each cookie with your thumb (The edges of the dough may crack slightly). Fill each with ¼ teaspoon jam.
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let the cookies stand 1 minute before removing to a cooling rack.
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

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fay collins

1 year ago

Thank you so much for the orange marmalade recipe and the butter jam thumprint cookies. GREAT! fay

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Hans

This looks great. Just one question. Can i mix the dough manually, or does it really need to use a electric mixer?

Gilly

1 month ago

So happy to see this recipe reminder, thank you Gemma – I used to make them with my Grandma (umm… 70yrs ago!)

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Jan Jandora

2 months ago

Can I use almond flour to make these? Would I eliminate the almond extract??

Shirleyt

3 years ago

These cookies are delicious and easy to make.

Anushamv

Hi Gemma… Made these beauties today…loved it…

Erin DeSantos

Actually, once I took them out of the oven, I realized they are ok! Phew! They taste good too. I’m relieved! Thanks for this recipe as well as so many other wonderful ones!

Erin

Hi, I made these today & am not sure what I did wrong. As one other person commented, the dough was dry and crumbly. I had to add a little bit of milk to it to get it to hold together. I managed to form it into a dough ball and put it in the fridge for an hour. I was able to roll them into balls and put the jam in the middle. However, I just checked on them in the oven and they’ve spread apart a lot and don’t look great. Maybe I used too much butter? I… Read more »