Buttery Melt-in-Your-Mouth Thumbprint Cookies
These buttery melt-in-your-mouth thumbprint cookies combine a crumbly buttery texture with sweet jam filling, making them a perfect easy homemade treat for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (160 g) jam or preserves (raspberry, strawberry, apricot, or your choice)
- Optional: ¼ cup (30 g) finely chopped nuts for rolling
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter with ½ cup granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and, if using, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Refrigerate the dough for 15-20 minutes to firm up.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and roll gently between your palms. Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, gently press into the center of each dough ball to create a small well.
- Spoon about ½ teaspoon of jam into each thumbprint, being careful not to overfill.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are pale golden and centers are slightly soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use softened unsalted butter at room temperature for best texture. Chill dough before baking to prevent spreading. Press thumbprints gently but deep enough to hold jam without cracking. Watch baking time closely to avoid overbaking. Optional variations include rolling dough in chopped nuts or sugar, adding lemon zest, or using gluten-free/dairy-free substitutions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 70
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1
Keywords: thumbprint cookies, buttery cookies, jam cookies, easy cookies, homemade treats, holiday cookies, melt-in-your-mouth cookies