How To Make Thumbprint Cookies
Mmmm…another cookie recipe! Yes, I am a cookie lover and I am especially fond of those which build on shortbread cookies. To make thumbprint cookies is to start with a foundation shortbread and then enhance with all variety of fillings – mostly jam, but not only jam. So, let’s get to how to make thumbprint cookies!
How To Make Thumbprint Cookies – Not Unlike Other Cookies
The thumbprint cookie is not unlike other cookies where the wet ingredients are whipped until they are fluffy and the dry ingredients are incorporated into the wet ingredients. This is classic cookie stuff. They mostly don’t differ from this. The thumbprint cookies even use the same ingredients. Where the thumbprint gets interesting is the fillings.
How To Make Thumbprint Cookies – The Fillings
The thumbprint cookie is essentially a shortbread cookie with a divot pressed into it for the sole purpose of carrying more goodies to your mouth! A cookie that goes beyond being a cookie. A cookie that is a vehicle delivering deliciousness beyond just cookie goodness. After scooping and rolling some of the dough into balls, as the name suggests, a thumb (or the back of a spoon) is used to press said divot. Then all variety of things can be scooped into the divot. The classic is, of course, jam. Although I hate to use the word puddle in reference to food because it is ridiculous, this amounts to a cookie with a puddle of jam on top. But we should not stop with jam – peanut butter – dulce de leche – a single roasted, salted pecan – caramel (not as good as dulce de leche but to each her own)- dark chocolate. You get the idea. Don’t be shy.
How To Make Thumbprint Cookies – The Bake
With baking, the fillings concentrate and get even more flavorful. Even the roasted nuts will get a little more flavorful. This is a good cookie for the holidays. Imagine all the holiday flavors that can be infused – pumpkin spice in the fall with orange marmalade, chocolate mint at Christmas, coconut and pineapple just for the heck of it.
The ‘How To Make Thumbprint Cookie’ video is below. The full recipe follows.
- 2 cups of flour
- 1/2 tsp of baking powder
- 1/4 tsp of kosher salt
- 2 sticks of butter at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1 egg
- Your favorite jams, jelly, dulce de leche, pecans/favorite nut, etc. for filling/topping the cookies
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, using a hand mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla together until fluffy. Scrape the sides down as needed.
- Beat in the egg.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients a little at a time until incorporated.
- Scoop and roll balls of dough and place them onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Using your thumb or a the back of a spoon, press a thumbprint into center of each ball.
- Fill with jam, dulce de leche or top with a pecan/favorite nut.
- Bake 14-15 minutes until golden.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- Serve.
Keep Eating! Keep Innovating!
How do you make Thumbprint Cookies? What do you fill them with? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.
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