Holiday Thumbprint Cookies
Celebrate the season with these festive and buttery Holiday Thumbprint Cookies, a timeless treat perfect for gift-giving or holiday gatherings. These delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookies feature a tender shortbread base, enhanced by a luscious dollop of jam nestled in the center—choose from raspberry, apricot, or strawberry for a burst of fruity flavor. With a simple thumbprint technique and a sprinkle of powdered sugar for an elegant finish, these cookies are as delightful to look at as they are to eat. Ready in under 40 minutes and yielding 24 beautiful cookies, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that will quickly become a go-to for your holiday baking repertoire.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 0.66 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg yolks
- 0.5 cup assorted jam (such as raspberry, apricot, or strawberry)
- 0.25 cup powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and egg yolks to the butter mixture, and mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together.
Using a tablespoon-sized scoop or your hands, roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each dough ball.
Place about 1/2 teaspoon of jam into each indentation, being careful not to overfill.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Optional: Once the cookies are fully cooled, dust them with powdered sugar for a festive touch.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3620 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 203.4 g | 261% | |
| Saturated Fat | 125.1 g | 626% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 886 mg | 295% | |
| Sodium | 674 mg | 29% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 426.3 g | 155% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.7 g | 28% | |
| Total Sugars | 224.7 g | ||
| Protein | 32.2 g | 64% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.9 mcg | 5% | |
| Calcium | 141 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 12.8 mg | 71% | |
| Potassium | 473 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
