Description
Classic thumbprint cookies offer a delightful blend of buttery shortbread and sweet jam. Small treats bring joy with their simple charm and nostalgic flavor profile, inviting you to savor each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps milk or cream
- ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for effortless cookie release.
- Dough Creation: Whip butter and sugar into a light, airy mixture. Blend vanilla extract and egg yolk thoroughly, ensuring smooth incorporation.
- Mixing Process: Gently fold flour and salt into the creamy base, developing a cohesive dough without overworking, which prevents tough texture.
- Shaping Cookies: Form walnut-sized dough spheres, creating a uniform thumb or spoon indent in each ball’s center to cradle jam filling.
- Jam Filling: Distribute preferred jam delicately into each cookie’s depression, showcasing vibrant color and flavor.
- Baking Stage: Arrange cookies on prepared sheets, maintaining slight separation. Bake 12-15 minutes until edges transform to a golden hue.
- Cooling and Finishing: Rest cookies on baking sheets until completely cooled. Craft icing by whisking powdered sugar with milk into a smooth, drizzling consistency.
- Decorative Touch: Elegantly pipe or drizzle icing across jam-filled centers, creating an artistic final presentation.
- Storage: Allow icing to set completely before transferring cookies to an airtight container, preserving their delicate texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Choose Quality Ingredients: Select high-fat butter and fresh egg yolks for a richer, more tender cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- Control Dough Consistency: Avoid overmixing when adding flour to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients combine smoothly.
- Master Thumbprint Technique: Create uniform wells by using the back of a small spoon or your thumb, applying gentle, even pressure to ensure consistent jam placement.
- Temperature Matters: Allow butter and eggs to reach room temperature before mixing, which helps create a more homogeneous dough and promotes even baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 151
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg