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

4.68 from 34 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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Hans

8 months ago

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

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fay collins

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

Shirleyt

2 years ago

These cookies are delicious and easy to make.

Lynda Shortt

3 months ago

Hi Gemma, I’m going to try these today. If I wanted to substitute jam for Nutella chocolate spread do I still add Nutella before they bake or once they’re out of the oven?
Thanks for a lovely recipe!
Lynda.

Heather

4 months ago

What can you substitute for the almond extract?

Puja Chakrabarty

1 year ago

Recipe for strawberry cookies please 🙏🏻

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StephanieL

My go-to recipe for cookies!

My only problem is that they flatten/melt in the oven and do not keep the lovely rounded shape. I have even tried chilling the dough overnight and chilling the cookies before baking them. Any recommendations?

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sandrajudy

These turned out great. My toddler helped – she loved making the thumbprint. We also added some holiday cheer by colouring our dough and making red and green cookies.

Claire0511

Made these twice, first time came out right they tasted amazing second time they baked flat I followed recipe exactly what did I do wrong ? They still tasted really good though but lost the thumb print shape ended more like a cookie shape.