When it comes to Christmas baking, few treats are as charming and timeless as Christmas thumbprint cookies. With their buttery texture, delicate crumb, and jewel-toned centers, these cookies are a staple on holiday dessert tables and Christmas cookie boxes. They’re simple to make, endlessly customizable, and bring a touch of homemade warmth to the festive season.
Thumbprint cookies are believed to have Scandinavian roots, but over time they’ve become a beloved holiday cookie tradition around the world. The base dough is rich yet light, typically made with butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla. Once shaped into small balls, each cookie is gently pressed in the center to create the signature “thumbprint,” ready to be filled with something sweet and festive.
What makes Christmas Thumbprint Cookies popular??
- Classic holiday tradition: Thumbprint cookies have been a staple in Christmas baking for generations.
- Simple ingredients: Made with basic pantry staples, they’re easy to bake without complicated techniques.
- Festive appearance: The colorful centers resemble little holiday jewels, making them visually appealing.
- Perfect texture balance: Soft, buttery cookies paired with a smooth or slightly tart filling.
- Great for gifting: They hold their shape well and look beautiful in holiday tins, boxes, and cookie gift baskets.
- Kid-friendly to make: Creating the thumbprint is fun and interactive, making them ideal for family baking.
- Make-ahead friendly: Dough can be prepared in advance, and baked cookies stay fresh for days.
Whether you’re baking for a party, a cookie swap, or just a cozy night at home, Christmas thumbprint cookies deserve a spot on your holiday baking list. They’re easy, festive, and always a crowd favorite. One bite, and it’s easy to see why they’ve remained a holiday classic year after year.
Different Variations to Try:
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Classic Jam Thumbprints: You can’t go wrong with traditional raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam. The slightly tart filling balances the buttery cookie and adds that festive pop of color everyone loves.
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Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints: Fill the centers with rich chocolate ganache for a more indulgent version. These are always a hit with chocolate lovers and pair beautifully with a nut‑coated cookie base.
- Nutella Thumbprints: A quick and easy option that’s always popular—especially with kids. Warm Nutella spooned into the centers creates a creamy, irresistible filling.
Helpful Hints:
- Don’t skip chilling the dough as it is essential to the cookies spreading less and hold its shape
- Preheat the oven fully to the desired temperature before placing the cookies.
- For the indentation, you can use your thumb or the back of the 1/2 tsp measuring spoon.
- Use a cook baking sheet everytime you make a new batch to avoid early spreading
Other Cookie Recipes from my Blog to try:
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Happy Cooking!!!
Christmas ThumbPrint Cookies | A Festive Holiday Classic
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour plus 2 Tbsp
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1.5 tsp almond extract or vanilla used vanilla
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ cup raspberry jam or your choice of jam
- 1 egg yolk optional
Instructions
- Cream butter & sugar in your electric kitchen aid mixer. If using egg yolk, then add that, I didn't use it.
- Add your vanilla or almond extract to it
- Slowly add your flour to the mix along with salt
- With the help of the spatula, mix everything until combined
- You will have a soft pliable dough
- Place parchment paper on the baking tray. Taking small portion at a time, make smooth dough balls and put them on the tray a couple of inches apart
- Using the back of the measuring spoon, make an indent or you can use your thumb.
- Cover it with the plastic serene wrap and place it in the fridge for about 45 mins to an hour
- At this time, fill the indents with your choice of jam. Don't overfill it
- Place it back in the fridge for another 10 mins
- Heat the oven at 350F and place the baking sheet in the oven
- Cookies should take 12-13 mins depending on the oven. Keep an eye after 11 mins to make sure the bottoms don't burn
- Once you take them out of the oven, let it sit for a min and then with the help of the spatula, transfer one by one on the cooling rack.
- The cookies will harden a bit once they have completely cooled down.
- Place them in an air tight container and enjoy them with a cup of tea or coffee.