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Butter Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 90 reviews

Butter Thumbprint Cookies are delightful buttery treats with a soft, tender texture and a sweet jam filling at the center. These classic cookies combine a rich vanilla-scented dough with your choice of raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam, making them perfect for holiday celebrations or anytime you crave a simple, homemade cookie.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup fruit jam (raspberry, strawberry, or apricot)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
  2. Make the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process should take about 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the vanilla extract and mix it fully into the creamed butter. Slowly add the all-purpose flour and salt to the mixture, stirring until the dough just comes together without overmixing.
  3. Shape the Cookies: Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls using your hands or a cookie scoop to ensure uniform sizes. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading during baking. Use your thumb or a small spoon to gently press an indentation into the center of each dough ball to create a well for the jam filling.
  4. Fill the Indentation: Spoon approximately ½ teaspoon of your chosen fruit jam into the indentation of each cookie. Be careful not to overfill to prevent the jam from spilling over while baking.
  5. Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to turn a light golden brown, indicating they are baked through but still soft in the center.
  6. Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up. Then transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
  7. Serve & Enjoy: Once the cookies have fully cooled, serve them as delightful finger treats perfect for festive occasions or everyday indulgence.

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is softened at room temperature to achieve the ideal creamy texture when creaming with sugar.
  • Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
  • Experiment with different jam flavors according to your preference, but thicker jams hold better during baking.
  • These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • For a festive look, consider dusting the cookies lightly with powdered sugar once cooled.

Keywords: Thumbprint cookies, butter cookies, jam cookies, holiday cookies, homemade cookies, baked desserts

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/butter-thumbprint-cookies-recipe/