Delight your taste buds this festive season with Tasty Holiday Thumbprint Cookies – a classic treat that combines buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread with the vibrant sweetness of fruity jam. These holiday favorites are easy to make with just a handful of pantry staples, including creamy unsalted butter, a touch of almond extract for optional richness, and your favorite jam or preserves for customizable flavor. Each cookie features a signature thumbprint indentation filled with warm, gooey jam and a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a festive finish. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or gifting, these cookies bake in just 15 minutes and yield 24 irresistible bites of joy. These versatile and visually stunning cookies are sure to be a seasonal hit!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and almond extract (if using) 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 ingredients, mixing on low speed until a crumbly dough forms.
Add the tablespoon of milk and mix until the dough comes together into a cohesive ball.
Scoop out 1-tablespoon portions of dough and roll each into a smooth ball. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Using your thumb or the back of a small spoon, gently press a small indentation into the center of each dough ball.
Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of your chosen fruit jam or preserves.
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 sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, you can optionally dust the cookies with powdered sugar for a festive touch.
Serve and enjoy these Tasty Holiday Thumbprint Cookies with family and friends!
Calories |
3734 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 195.0 g | 250% | |
| Saturated Fat | 122.1 g | 610% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 518 mg | 173% | |
| Sodium | 679 mg | 30% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 475.4 g | 173% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.5 g | 30% | |
| Total Sugars | 251.6 g | ||
| Protein | 30.4 g | 61% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.1 mcg | 15% | |
| Calcium | 147 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 13.4 mg | 74% | |
| Potassium | 498 mg | 11% | |
*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.