• Recipes Index
  • About
  • Contact

Real Life Dinner

Recipes your real life family will love!

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Seasonal
  • Slow Cooker / Instant Pot
  • Quick and Easy
  • $10 Dinners
  • Maria’s Favs
Home
  • Recipes Index
    • Dinners
    • Desserts
    • Seasonal
    • Slow Cooker / Instant Pot
    • Quick and Easy
    • $10 Dinners
    • Maria’s Favs
  • About
  • Contact

December 15, 2021 2 Comments

Thumbprint Cookies

A white plate filled with Thumbprint Cookies. In the upper background is a grey kitchen towel.

 There is just something so delicious about a Thumbprint Cookie. The buttery shortbread, the slight nuttiness from the pecans, and the sweet and tart drop of jam in the middle make the best combination! I love thumbprint cookies, and I am so excited to share this perfect and so delicious recipe with you! I’m having so much fun sharing cookie recipes this week! Did you catch the Pfeffernusse Cookie recipe on Monday? They are a German cookie that you really must try!

I don’t remember my mom ever making Thumbprint Cookies when I was a kid, but I do remember getting them on Christmas treat plates from neighbors or having them at potlucks. I loved them so much! As much as I love them, I really haven’t made them much as an adult and decided to change that this year. After researching different recipes, I gotta say, I think what I came up with is perfection! I hope you love them!

A hand holding a half eaten thumbprint cookie held above a white plate full of cookies with a grey tea towel in the upper left background. More Treats for Christmas Plates

  • The Best Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies
  • Hershey Bar Fudge
  • Merry Widow Caramels
  • Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
  • White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix Recipe
  • Mom’s Best Peanut Brittle Recipe

12 Thumbprint Cookies sitting on a cooling rack.

step-by-step photos on how to make thumbprint cookies

10-photo picture of step-by-step pictures on how to make Thumbprint CookiesThumbprint Cookies on a white plate. A grey kitchen towel is wrapped around the left side of the plate.Frequently Asked Questions & Tips about how to make Thumbprint Cookies

what is the best way to shape the cookies?

Use a 1-tbsp cookie scoop to shape the cookies. It’s the perfect size. If you don’t have one, use a 2-tbsp cookie scoop and break the scooped dough in half to get the right size of ball.

can I make the dough in advance?

Yes. You can make the dough the day before and chill it overnight. When ready to bake, let the dough sit on the countertop for an hour, and then shape into balls and follow the steps afterward. In the alternative, you can shape the dough into balls and place them in the fridge overnight. On the next day, let the dough balls warm up enough to roll in the crushed pecans, and then fill with jam and bake.

can I use a different jam flavor than strawberry?

Absolutely. Mix it up and use your favorite jam or a variety of jams.

A hand held above a plate full of thumbprint cookies holding a cookie between the thumb and fingers. A grey tea towel is loosely laid above the plate.I don’t like pecans. What’s a good substitute?

Walnuts are a good substitute. Also, if you are allergic to nuts, you can skip rolling them in crushed nuts and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

how should the cookies be stored?

Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to six days on the countertop or in the freezer for up to two months. Let the jam set up before freezing them.

Tips:
  • To crush the pecans, use a food processor.
  • Roll all the dough balls in the crushed nuts and place them on the cookie sheet before doing the jam step. It makes the process more streamlined.

Two-photo Pinterest picture with the text of the title at the top.baker’s tools:

  • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
  • Cookie Sheets
  • Silpat Baking Mat
  • Cookie Scoop
  • Cooling Rack
  • Spatula

For the Pecan Lovers

A small white plate with a slice of pecan pie on it, you can see the rest of the pecan pie in the background and a few more plates to the rightDear Abby Famous Pecan PiePecan Pie Bars stacked tall on a white plate.Pecan Pie BarsPumpkin-Pecan-Crunch-6Pumpkin Pecan Crunch

5.0 from 1 reviews
Thumbprint Cookies
 
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
12 mins
Total time
32 mins
 
Buttery shortbread cookies rolled in crushed pecans, pressed down in the center with your thumb, and filled with strawberry jam! Such a delicious and beautiful cookie!
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Holiday Cookie
Serves: 48
Ingredients
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 and ⅓ cups +1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup crushed pecans
  • ½ cup strawberry jam
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set them aside.
  2. In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes or until well combined.
  3. Mix in the eggs yolks, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined.
  4. Next, mix in the flour. Mix until the dough is no longer crumbly.
  5. Roll 1 tbsp of dough into a ball. I like to use my 2 tbsp cookie scoop and break the scooped dough in half to get the right size of ball. If you have a 1 tbsp cookie scoop, that would be perfect.
  6. Once you have the dough ball rolled, roll it in the crushed pecans and place it on the prepared cookie sheet. Use your thumb to make a small dip in the cookie. Fill the dip with ½ tsp of strawberry jam.
  7. I prefer to get all the cookies rolled in the nuts and on the cookie sheet before doing the jam step. It makes it more streamlined.
  8. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are set and the bottoms are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes.
  9. Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. ENJOY!
3.5.3251

Reader Favorites

Amazing Spaghetti SauceAmazing Spaghetti SauceA slice of banana bundt cake with cream cheese icing on top of three small plates with a fork lying next to it. Faded in the background is a banana bundt cake with cream cheese icing with a slice cut out of it.Best Ever Banana Bundt Cake RecipeSlice meatloaf with a ketchup glaze on top in a loaf panClassic Meatloaf Recipe…just like mom used to make.

Pinterest photo with the text of the title of the recipe at the top.

Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Holiday, Main Categories, Recipes
jam filled thumbprint cookies, Jam Thumbprint Cookies, Thumbprint cookie recipe, Thumbprint Cookies, Thumbprint cookies filled with jam, Thumbprint Cookies with pecans, Thumbprints
2 Comments

Like it? Share it!

Yum

Subscribe & never miss another recipe!

Sign up above and receive delicious family-friendly recipes directly in your email inbox!

2 Comments

  1. Bonny Dahlsrud

    December 17, 2021 at 11:39 pm

    Buttery goodness in this thumbprint cookie! So delicious and pretty good the holidays!

    #decembergiveaway

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 21, 2021 at 4:23 am

      Yes, so yummy! They’re one of my favorites!

      reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


When you start your Amazon shopping here, I receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting Real Life Dinner.

Housekeeping

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Meet Maria

Hi, I'm a professional recipe developer, with a degree in teaching and a minor in nutrition. I love helping busy families, like mine, "eat good" despite their crazy schedules...join the fun! Start here

TEST

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER DELICIOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPE

The Best of the Season

Classic-Broccoli-Salad-RecipeFresh-Strawberry-Jam-Recipe-made-with-sure-jell-less-sugar-recipe---Mediterranean-cous-cous-salad-recipe-with-chickenAmazing Strawberry Cheesecake Pastry Bites. Only four ingredients and Soooo Delicious! side bar-Old-bay-potato-salad

Recent Posts

  • Broccoli Slaw Salad
  • Easy No-Egg Banana Bread
  • Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
  • How to Make Easy Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  • Stuffed Zucchini Soup
  • Oven Baked Dutch Oven Potatoes
  • Simple yet “Fancy” Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas for Busy Families

Copyright © 2025 Real Life Dinner  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs