Easy Thumbprint Cookies Recipe (video)

You’ll love these soft, buttery, and delicate thumbprint cookies, which can be made with a variety of different fillings and toppings! The cookie dough is quick and simple, made with butter, sugar, and a touch of vanilla, and the dough doesn’t need to be chilled! They’re rolled, shaped, and filled with jam. You can also add some chopped nuts for a bit of crunch! These thumbprint cookies are great year-round, but especially for the holidays! This recipe is always on my Christmas cookie baking list, and I hope you enjoy them, too!

Watch My Thumbprint Cookie Video Tutorial

Watch my YouTube thumbprint cookie video tutorial for step-by-step instructions and see just how quick and easy this recipe is to make! Want to stay up to date on my newest recipe posts? Make sure to subscribe to my website email list and my YouTube channel for notifications.

Ingredients for Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Here are my tips for the main ingredients you’ll need to make these cookies at home. Find the full list of ingredients in the printable recipe card below.

• Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter for all my baking recipes. This gives you more control over the salt content of the recipe. Soften the butter at room temperature before making the cookies.
• White & Light Brown Sugar – using a combination of these two sugars gives the cookies a soft and delicate texture.
• Vanilla Extract – you can also use vanilla bean paste.
• All Purpose Flour – this recipe works best with regular flour. If you wish to make a gluten-free version of these cookies, I recommend trying a good quality GF baking flour blend.
• Jam – you can use just about any type of jam for these thumbprint cookies. I personally love raspberry, apricot, strawberry, and blueberry. Leftover cranberry sauce also works great around the holidays.  
• Nuts – if you wish to add nuts to this recipe, try using pistachios, almonds, walnuts, or pecans.

Supplies & Tools for the Recipe

Need some supplies or tools to prepare these delicious cookies at home? Shop my Amazon Affiliate links for the items I use in my kitchen! See Disclosure Statement.

• Aluminum Baking Sheets
• Silicone Baking Mats
• Glass Mixing Bowls
• Small Cookie Scoop

Preparing the Thumbprint Cookie Dough

I love this recipe for thumbprint cookies because of the texture and flavor, but also because the cookie dough doesn’t need to be chilled prior to baking, which is a huge time saver! Here’s how to make dough:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two large baking trays with silicone mats or parchment paper.
2. Place all the softened butter into a large mixing bowl. Add the white and light brown sugars. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together, beating for 5 to 6 minutes, until the butter is fluffy and creamy.
3. Next, add in the vanilla extract, eggs, and salt. Mix again for a few minutes until the eggs are well incorporated.
4. Add the first 2 cups of flour to the batter and beat with the mixer. If you’re using a stand mixer, you can continue to add the remaining flour gradually, mixing on low speed. Otherwise, switch to a wooden spoon and gradually work in the remaining flour. The dough will look dry and crumbly at first but keep mixing until it’s smooth. I like to use my hands to bring the dough together.
5. Use a small cookie scoop (about 1 ½ tablespoons) to measure out the dough for each cookie (about 25 grams). Gently roll each scoop into a neat dough ball and place onto a tray.

Adding the Fillings & Toppings

Once you have the dough ready, it’s time to decide on your fillings and toppings! Here are some flavor combinations I enjoy:

• Raspberry jam filling with finely diced salted pistachios
• Apricot jam filling with finely diced roasted almonds
• Blueberry jam with lemon zest added to the dough
• Cranberry sauce/jam with finely diced pecans
• Nutella hazelnut spread with finely diced hazelnuts
• Chocolate kisses in place of jam

1. You can make all the cookies one flavor or try several different fillings. If adding chopped nuts, place them into a small bowl, then firmly roll each cookie dough ball in the nuts. Use your hands to roll each dough ball back into shape.
2. Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Space the cookies apart about 1 ½-inches; they will not spread.
3. Use the back of a ½-teaspoon measuring spoon and press down over the center of each dough ball, creating a deep well for the filling.
4. Drop approximately 1 teaspoon of jam into the center of each cookie.   

Baking Instructions for Thumbprint Cookies

Bake the cookies at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes, just until the bottom of the cookies turns a light golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring over to a wire cooling rack to cool.

Serving & Storing Suggestions

The jam filling inside these thumbprint cookies will get super-hot while baking! Allow the cookies to cool down before enjoying them.

Enjoy these thumbprint cookies with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Store the cookies at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 1 week. For longer storage, place the cookies into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 4 months.

More Recipes to Try!

Enjoyed my easy and delicious recipe for thumbprint cookies? Check out some of my other cookie recipes you’re sure to enjoy!

• Old-Fashioned Spritz Cookies – these are super soft and buttery!
• Pistachio White Chocolate Cookies – soft and chewy browned butter cookies with sea salt, pistachios, and chocolate. So delicious!
• Sugar Cookies with Raspberry Frosting
• Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti – so delicious with coffee!