Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
These delightful thumbprint cookies are made with a nutty dough and filled with your choice of sweet fruity jam. You can change up these cookies in so many ways from jam to Nutella to keep things exciting. The texture and flavor of these cookies are such a treat – you’re sure to keep coming back for more.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Everyone loves holiday cookies from our Christmas Sugar Cookies to Chocolate Crinkle Cookies and lets not forget Snickerdoodles! If you are looking to build your best cookie platter without too much effort, these Thumbprint cookies are a beautiful addition to your Christmas cookie box.
What are Thumbprint Cookies?
Thumbprint cookies are classic sugar cookies with a jam-filled center. To make them, the cookie dough is first rolled into a ball, then the tops are flattened a little. Next, an indent is made in the center of the cookie and filled with any jam or sweet filling of choice. Finally, the cookie is baked.
Thumbprint cookies are said to have originated in Sweden, where they are called “hallongrotta”. This name translates to “raspberry cave” because traditionally, raspberry jam/filling is used to fill the indent or “cave” in the cookie, although any filling is equally delicious.
Ingredients
Thumbprint cookies require simple pantry and refrigerator baking staples (scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements):
- Butter – use unsalted butter to control the salt in the recipe
- Sugar – use granulated sugar to sweeten the cookies
- Egg – helps to bind the dough and enriches the cookies
- Vanilla extract – for the best flavor, use real vanilla extract
- Flour – all-purpose flour is best for a stable but tender cookie base.
- Salt – balances the sweetness
- Pecans – finely chopped and blended into the dough for nutty flavor and texture
- Raspberry Jam – the traditional choice for thumbprint cookies
How to Make Thumbprint Cookies
These thumbprint cookies use eight ingredients and take only 20 minutes to prepare. Here’s a quick overview before you get baking.
- Cream the Butter: In a stand mixer, whisk softened butter and sugar until combined. Add in egg yolk and vanilla extract.
- Add dry ingredients: Switch to a flat beater and mix in the flour, salt, and toasted and finely chopped pecans.
- Form the cookies: Using a small cookie scoop, place equal-sized dough mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Make an indent in the cookies: Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, make an indent in the center of each cookie.
- Fill cookies with jam: Fill each indent with your choice of jam.
- Bake: Bake in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Pro Tip: Did you forget to soften your butter? Don’t fret! Quickly soften it using this hack.
Cookie Filling Options
The wonderful thing about thumbprint cookies is that the filling can be changed each time you make the cookies. You can also split the batch and make half with one type of filling and the other half with a separate filling. It’s like a new cookie, but without the hassle.
Here is a list of our favorite fillings for thumbprint cookies. If you are planning to use a store-bought filling, be sure to choose a filling with a thicker consistency. If the preserve is very thin, it may not solidify as it should while baking.
- Apricot raspberry preserves
- Plum jam
- Country peach preserves
- Strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry jam
- Lingonberry preserves
- Lemon curd
- Nutella
Tips for the Best Cookies
It’s hard to go wrong with thumbprint cookies because they are so simple and easy to make. Follow these tips to make the process even more enjoyable.
- Use a cookie scoop: A small cookie scoop will help you control the size of the dough balls to make them all the same size for even baking.
- Coat cookies in coarse sugar: Coat each cookie in coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for extra texture and sweetness.
- Add filling with a piping bag: Use a piping bag to make it easier to perfectly fill the center of the cookies with jam. Alternatively, add jam into a ziplock bag and cut off a small corner for the jam to squeeze through.
- Make indents right away: Make the indents as soon as you roll the dough into smooth rounds and gently flatten the tops. This will help prevent the cookie from cracking.
Pro Tip: Use the leftover egg white to make an egg white omelet and you’ll feel even better about eating your cookies!
Common Questions
Avoid overmixing or using too much flour (it’s important to measure ingredients correctly). Also, roll the cookie dough balls until the surface is completely smooth, then make an indent as soon as possible. Indent the dough balls as you make them.
Prevent thumbprint cookies from spreading too much by using softened, not melted butter. Melted butter doesn’t hold the round cookie shape like softened butter does. Also, use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to line the baking pan instead of nonstick spray or butter, as these tend to make an overly greasy foundation.
Thumbprint cookies can go flat if the flour is not properly measured. Too little flour results in a cookies that spread too much and go flat.
Storing Thumbprint Cookies
Storing at Room Temperature: Thumbprint cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Keep the container closed to prevent the cookies from drying out.
To Freeze Cookies: The cookies can also be frozen in a freezer bag for three months, but make sure to freeze them after they have been baked. Thaw cookies to room temperature before enjoying. Alternatively, freeze the cookie dough for up to three months. When ready to bake, thaw the frozen dough in the fridge before shaping and filling the cookies with jam.
More Cookie Recipes
- Snowball Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Kolaczki (Polish) Cookies
- European Peach Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter, (3/4 lb) softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, *measured correctly
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped
- 1 cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a stand mixer, whisk together the softened butter and sugar on high speed for 2-3 minutes. Add in the egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- Switch the whisk to to a flat beater. Add in the flour, salt, and chopped toasted pecans, mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed.
- Use a small cookie scoop, or a spoon to portion out equal-sized rounds (about 1 Tbsp each) of the cookie dough into a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll each piece of dough into a ball and place them 2 inches apart. Indent dough balls as you go.
- Use your thumb or the back of the teaspoon, and press halfway into the center of each cookie.
- Fill each cookie in the center with jam. Bake at 350°F for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. If baking on 2 racks, rotate the pans halfway. Transfer to a rack to cool completely before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
Natalya Drozhzhin
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Tasted good, but even following the measurements as noted, still cracked and somewhat dry. I’ve made similar recipes with no problem, but this one called for pecans. Not sure if that was the culprit for both issues.
Hi Laurie! See my note in the common question section. The most common reason would be if the wet/dry ratio is off- for example, using too much flour. I have a tutorial on How to measure ingredients .
I made this cookies,I called them nest birds cookies.also,I use diffrent kind o jams.Last time I use blueberry pie filling..ONE,more comment I USE 1banana and 3 table spoons milk,dew egg allergy.DELISIOUS!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing, good to hear that you enjoyed these cookies!
HI Natasha I like that you put the nuts in the dough. Thank for the recipe,,,Merry Christmas
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Lena! Merry Christmas!
I have made this recipe many Times and they always turned out great! Whenever the dough crumles I suggest adding 2tbsp of milk, it always worked for me!
I’m so glad that worked, Mellyssa! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi natasha! I have made this recipe many times, but this time the dough became too crumbly and the dough wouldnt stick together. is there something else I need to add?
Hi Mellyssa, we have that note under the Common Questions section – “How do I prevent thumbprint cookies from cracking and crumbling?” I hope that helps.
the best cookies i’v every tried. I LOVE the thumbprint cookies!
Hi Milana! I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you!
hello, is there anything that I can substitute the pecans with? Nut allergy…
Hello Marina, I haven’t tried other substitutions aside from nuts. But one of our readers shared this “I made these cookies today subbing out the pecans in the dough with 1/2 cup toasted black sesame seeds and used orange marmalade as the jam turned out beautiful they were delicious and so easy.” I hope that helps!
Amazing and delicious cookies, they were a hit. I used guava and cherry jam
That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing, Regina!
Those cookies are delicious! I have a question though. They are cracking when I am making indentations for jam. Do you know the reason why?
Please see the Common questions section titled: “How do I prevent thumbprint cookies from cracking and crumbling?”
These are my new favorite! Love the buttery crumbly cookie with a gooey filled middle.
P.s. these make more than 40. I had about 60 which I’m not complaining about
Hi Nastya! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for the review.
Hi Natasha, can’t wait to make this!!
Qq, is the brown filling in the picture chocolate with chopped pecans? If so, what chocolate would you recommend? Semi sweet milk chocolate?
Hi Graciela, that is Nutella used as a filling and then garnished with chopped pecans.
Natashas how can i cut the recipe in half? I love your recipes…
Hi Lena! In the recipe card, you can change the number of servings to 20, which will change the ingredient list for you. I hope you love this recipe too! 🙂
Roll the cookie balls before baking in the leftover egg white. Whip the egg white with a fork beforehand to break it down a bit. It will give the cookie a lovely finish. This is an excellent recipe.
Thank you for sharing, Josephine! So glad you loved the recipe!
A must try cookie recipe, if you are foodie, I tried to make it and it was not made as good as yours, but even so, I enjoyed it, thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been looking for “my old recipe” for ages & this is it. Thank you. Just curious, could ground walnuts be used instead of pecans?
I’m so glad you found it, Mary! I bet walnuts will work great!
Wow! This is so good! Definitely a new family favorite treat. Thanks, for sharing this highly recommended recipe. We enjoyed it so much.
You’re welcome. So glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing! We used strawberry jam and they were delicious and so pretty. Easy to make too!
Great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Jane!
We had fun making these beautiful thumbprint cookies. My family loves the nutty dough paired with their favorite fruity jam. Thanks Natasha for this wonderful recipe! Highly recommended!
Thank you, I appreciate your excellent comments and feedback!
Could you please explain to me what a flat beater is? 🙂
It’s telling me my comment is too short and I must use 50 characters but I haven’t got that much to tell you.
Hi. I’m a British o
Israeli. I’m 78 years old and haven’t cooked or baked for a long time but I’m getting to feel I want to start again. Bye.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Judy! Thank you! You can see in the images above the paddle attachment (which is the flat beater). I hope that helps and I hope you love this recipe if you try it. 🙂
Can salted butter be used instead of unsalted butter? Also I only have regular iodized table salt not fine sea salt. How much regular salt would I use to make these cookies. I appreciate your help with these questions & your recipes. Thanks
Hi Luan. We use unsalted butter so that we can control the level of saltiness. You could test these with salted butter but if so, I would not add any additional salt in the recipe.
I don’t own a stand mixer. Can I use an electric beater to make these thumbprint cookies?
Hi Maureen! That should be fine. You may have to do some additional kneading but hand since it may become too thick for whisk attachments to handle.
I made these cookies today subbing out the pecans in the dough with 1/2 cup toasted black sesame seeds and used orange marmalade as the jam turned out beautiful they were delicious and so easy.
That sounds wonderful! Very creative. Thank you for sharing that with us, Lisa.
In the pictures you’re showing walnuts, but the recipe is saying pecans…either one?
Hi Paula! Thank you for letting me know. Yes, either one will work, they’re interchangeable. 🙂