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.

Nutriscore Rating: 39/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 24

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)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Add the vanilla extract and egg yolks to the butter mixture, and mix until well combined.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each dough ball.

Step 8

Place about 1/2 teaspoon of jam into each indentation, being careful not to overfill.

Step 9

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

Step 10

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.

Step 11

Optional: Once the cookies are fully cooled, dust them with powdered sugar for a festive touch.

Step 12

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	799.6 grams (799.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3620

Total Fat 203.40g	261%
Saturated Fat 125.10g	626%
Polyunsaturated Fat NaNg
Cholesterol 886mg	295%
Sodium 674mg	29%
Total Carbohydrate 426.30g	155%
Dietary Fiber 7.70g	28%
Total Sugars 224.70g
Protein 32.20g	64%

Vitamin D 37IU	183%
Calcium 141mg	11%
Iron 13mg	71%
Potassium 473mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.0%

Protein: 3.5%

Carbs: 46.5%