Christmas Thumbprint Cookies with Jam
I have great memories making thumbprint cookies with my grandma, especially before Christmas. This is her recipe and it’s full of classic charm. The jam thumbprint cookies are light and buttery and when baked, the jelly in the centers is bright, cheery, and slightly chewy after baking.
Classic thumbprint cookies are the perfect addition to your cookie trays for entertaining, holiday dessert tables, cookie exchanges, baby or bridal showers, or tea parties. The centers shine like little jewels nested inside the tender cookies and people seem to gravitate towards these cookies! They’re easy to make, keep well, and are also a fun baking project to do with kids or grandkids.
Ingredients in Jam Thumbprint Cookies
To make these holiday cookies with jam in the middle, you’ll need these common fridge and panty ingredients: Cookies
Unsalted butter Granulated sugar Egg Vanilla extract Almond extract All-purpose flour Baking powder Salt Raspberry jelly Strawberry jelly Peach jelly
Glaze
Confectioners’ sugar Milk Vanilla extract (or almond extract)
Ingredient measurements and recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post!
How to Make Thumbprint Cookies
Believe it or not, these thumbprint jam cookies with icing are a cinch to make. Follow these easy steps:
Do I Have to Chill Thumbprint Cookie Dough?
Yes, the dough for thumbprint cookies is much more manageable if it’s been chilled for 1 to 2 hours. Any longer than that, and it will become difficult to chisel it out of your mixing bowl if it gets too cold. However, any less time, and the dough is very soft and a bit sticky to work with.
Is Almond Extract Necessary for the Cookies?
I absolutely love the flavor of almond extract and really think it takes certain baked goods, like these jam thumbprint cookies as well as say my Sweet Soft Cherry Bread with Cherry Almond Glaze, to the next level. Almond extract adds a richness, a more luxurious taste, something that you maybe can’t put your finger on, but it’s present. It also adds classic, nostalgic flavor and since this is a classic thumbprint cookie recipe, I definitely recommend using it, but it’s not an absolute requirement. If you choose to omit it, double the amount of vanilla extract that’s called for in the thumbprint cookies recipe.
What Kind of Jelly or Jam Is Best?
Let’s first talk about jelly versus jam. Jelly is smoother and more blended, whereas jam has chunks or bits of fruit in it. Because you’re using a very small amount of jelly in each cookie, I recommend jelly for that reason. Sometimes with jam, you can encounter a chunky strawberry or hunk of peach, and while wonderful on your morning toast, it’s not as easy to work with in thumbprint cookies. That’s because you’ll likely end up with just a bit too much quantity of jam, it can spread, it can burn, and so my vote is to use jelly with classic thumbprint cookies. Raspberry thumbprint cookies are the top choice for many, but strawberry and peach (or apricot) jelly are also favorites. Feel free to experiment with another favorite type of jelly, including blueberry, mixed berry, or your favorite. My raspberry jelly has seeds in it, which I guess could technically make it a jam, but we are getting into semantics at this point. Choice a seedless option if you’d like.
Do I Have to Glaze the Thumbprint Cookies?
No, you do not. It’s a lovely touch, both in terms of visual appeal and a bit of extra sweetness, but not required. For those who especially adore almond extract like me, adding it to the glaze is a great way to play up the flavor profile. Otherwise, just use vanilla extract.
How to Store the Cookies
I personally store these jam cookies airtight at room temp for up to 1 week, even when glazed. However, if you prefer to store glazed baked goods in the fridge, feel free to do so. I try to avoid refrigerating my baked goods if possible since the fridge can tend to dry things out. Thumbprint cookies can also be frozen airtight for up to 4 months. You can also freeze just balls of dough for up to 4 months and bake them off as desired. Allow them to come up to room temp, add the jelly, and then bake.
Tips for the Best Thumbprint Cookies
Following a couple essential tips will help you create the best Christmas thumbprint cookies that your family and friends will request year after year! Chilling the dough: You need to chill the dough for 1 to 2 hours. Creating the indent: The thumbprint in your cookies must be made using your thumb. If you try to use a spoon the indentation will not be deep enough and the jelly once hot and bubbly in the oven will spill over the edges of the cookie leaving browned jelly down the edges of your cookie.
Filling the cookies with jam: Fill each indentation with no more than ½ teaspoon of jelly or it could overflow or burn around the edges. Scooping out the cookie dough: Do not make cookies bigger or smaller than indicated because it will throw off the ratios of jelly, baking times, risk for overflowing, and so forth.
Baking the cookies: I always recommend baking one sheet of cookies at a time, on the center rack, rotating once midway through baking for optimal results.
More Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes:
25 Holiday Cookie Favorites – The tried-and-true favorites are all here! If you need a holiday cookie recipe, this collection has you covered!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
Snowflake Linzer Cookies – Linzer cookies are the ultimate sandwich cookies! A layer of raspberry jam is tucked in between two buttery, nutty cookies and dusted with powdered sugar! Great Christmas cookies that are perfect to serve at your holiday parties or to include in cookie exchanges!
Classic Gingerbread Cookies – Soft and chewy cutout gingerbread cookies filled with plenty of ginger and warming spices! Decorated with a sweet, soft royal icing and topped with cinnamon candies, these gingerbread men are a nostalgic favorite Christmas cookie that everyone adores!
Glazed Eggnog Cookies — Soft, buttery tea cakes topped with a creamy eggnog glaze are a Christmas treat that everyone will love!! EASY to make, not at all dry, and great for cookie exchanges or hostess gifts!!
Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies – These traditional sugar cookies are just like Grandma used to make!! They’re thin but still soft, topped with a simple 2-ingredient royal icing, and loaded with sprinkles! So festive and perfect for cookies exchanges or hostess gifts!!
Soft and Chewy M&M’s Chocolate Chip Cookies – If you’re looking for a new M&M cookie recipe, this is THE ONE! Soft, buttery, and irresistible!!
Soft Frosted Holiday Sprinkles Cookies – Tender, buttery cookies topped with cream cheese frosting and loaded with sprinkles! Easy, no-roll holiday cookies that everyone goes crazy for!
Chocolate Covered Christmas Oreos – Oreo cookies dipped in chocolate and loaded with sprinkles are an irresistible holiday treat! Fast, EASY, no-bake, can be made in advance! Perfect for cookie exchanges and hostess gifts. Get ready to break out the sprinkles and have fun making and then eating these family favorite Christmas cookies!
Hot Chocolate Cookies — These gooey hot chocolate cookies are complete with big gooey marshmallows and chunks of melted dark chocolate. This is the perfect holiday cookie recipe!
