Description

Buttery, jam-filled Christmas thumbprint cookies that are festive, elegant, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious — a foolproof holiday favorite perfect for cookie exchanges or gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
Optional: ¼ teaspoon almond extract
⅔ cup finely chopped nuts or granulated sugar for coating
½ to ¾ cup jam or preserves (raspberry, strawberry, or apricot)
Optional: lemon curd, chocolate spread, or marmalade

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
Add egg yolk, vanilla, and almond extract if using; mix until smooth.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour and salt, then add gradually to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and coat in finely chopped nuts or sugar if desired.
Place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Press a thumbprint or back of a spoon in the center of each cookie.
Bake for 8 minutes, then remove and fill each indentation with about ½ teaspoon of jam.
Return to oven and bake an additional 10–14 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping for best results. Use seedless jam to prevent overflow. Store cookies in airtight containers for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 155
Sugar: 10g
Sodium: 95mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 12mg

Keywords: christmas thumbprint cookies, holiday cookies, jam cookies, festive baking, easy christmas recipes