Go Back

1. Thumbprint Jam Christmas Cookies

These buttery little gems are a holiday classic for a reason! The jewel-toned jam centers make them look festive and fancy, but here's the secret—they're actually super simple to make. No frosting bags, no decorating skills required, just your thumb and your favorite jam!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 36 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup raspberry strawberry, or apricot jam
  • Powdered sugar for dusting optional

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined.
  4. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  5. Using your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
  6. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. The cookies will look soft but will firm up as they cool.
  7. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.