Description
These classic Thumbprint Cookies are buttery, soft, and filled with your favorite fruit preserves. Perfect for holidays or anytime you want a sweet treat, these cookies offer a delightful combination of rich dough and tangy jam centers, topped with an optional dusting of powdered sugar for an extra touch of elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- â…” cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling and Topping
- ½ cup fruit preserves or jam (such as raspberry, strawberry, or apricot)
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, adding richness and flavor to the dough.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms without overworking it to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape Dough Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Create Indentations: Press your thumb or the back of a small spoon into the center of each dough ball to make a small well for the jam filling.
- Fill with Jam: Spoon about ½ teaspoon of your chosen fruit preserves or jam into each indentation, taking care not to overfill to prevent spilling.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, signaling they are perfectly baked and set.
- Cool and Finish: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar if desired for a festive look.
Notes
- For a festive touch, use a variety of jams in different colors to make your cookie platter vibrant and appealing.
- If the dough feels too soft to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before rolling to make shaping easier.
