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Classic buttery thumbprint cookies with tender, melt-in-your-mouth centers and lightly golden edges, each filled with a glossy jewel of fruit jam. The cookies feature colorful strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry centers and are arranged on a baking sheet as a nostalgic homemade holiday treat.

Classic Thumbprint Cookies

Classic buttery thumbprint cookies with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a bright jam center. Easy, nostalgic, and perfect for holidays, gifting, or everyday treating.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup jam strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blueberry, or mixed

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl, baking sheets, parchment paper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
  2. Beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix until smooth.
  3. Whisk flour and salt; add to butter mixture and mix until just combined.
  4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on sheets. Press a deep indent in each.
  5. Fill each indent with about ½ teaspoon jam.
  6. Bake 12–14 minutes until edges are just barely golden. Cool on sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Notes

Do not overmix the dough. Make deep indents and do not overfill with jam. Bake until edges are only lightly golden. Cookies firm up as they cool but stay tender. Excellent with multiple jam flavors. Store in an airtight container. Dough and baked cookies freeze well. Perfect for gifting.