Thumbprint Cookies Recipe – Simple, Customizable, and Delicious

At Eminent Recipes, my love for baking started in a small kitchen where simple ingredients turned into unforgettable family moments. These thumbprint cookies bring that same comfort and nostalgia to your table. With their buttery texture and sweet raspberry jam centers, these old fashioned thumbprint cookies are easy to make, endlessly customizable, and perfect for sharing. Whether for holidays or everyday treats, this thumbprint cookies recipe is pure homemade joy.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe was created for home bakers who love comforting desserts that feel nostalgic yet fit into modern, busy lifestyles. These thumbprint cookies are quick to prepare, easy to customize, and perfect for baking with family, especially kids who enjoy shaping and filling each cookie. Using simple pantry ingredients, this recipe delivers soft, buttery cookies with beautifully defined centers every time. Whether you choose raspberry jam, chocolate, or Hershey kisses, the flavor combinations make these cookies ideal for holidays, cookie swaps, or everyday treats.

What makes this thumbprint cookies recipe stand out is its flexibility. You can create old fashioned thumbprint cookies with jam, rich chocolate thumbprint cookies, or festive variations with icing depending on the occasion. The dough comes together fast, requires minimal chilling, and bakes evenly, making it stress-free for weeknights or special gatherings. Inspired by the comforting, family-focused cooking style behind Eminent Recipes, this recipe brings warmth, simplicity, and timeless flavor to your kitchen while still feeling special enough to share.

Ingredients for This Recipe

The ingredients for this recipe are simple, reliable, and designed to create perfectly balanced thumbprint cookies with a tender texture and rich flavor. Butter forms the foundation, giving the cookies their classic melt-in-your-mouth feel, while sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the filling. Egg yolk helps bind the dough and keeps the cookies soft rather than cakey. Vanilla enhances the overall aroma, and all-purpose flour provides structure so the cookies hold their shape after baking. A touch of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the buttery notes.

The filling is where creativity shines. Jam adds a bright, fruity contrast, chocolate creates a richer dessert-style cookie, and icing offers a bakery-style finish. This flexibility allows you to adapt the recipe for holidays, cookie trays, or everyday baking while keeping the same dependable base. Whether you prefer classic flavors or modern twists, these ingredients work together to deliver consistent, crowd-pleasing thumbprint cookies every time.

— 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
— ⅔ cup granulated sugar
— 1 large egg yolk
— 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
— 2 cups all-purpose flour
— ¼ teaspoon salt

— ½ cup raspberry jam or strawberry jam
— 24 Hershey’s Kisses (milk or dark chocolate)
— ½ cup melted chocolate or icing

How to Make This Recipe

Making these thumbprint cookies is a simple, rewarding process that delivers consistent results even for beginner bakers. The key is starting with properly softened butter, which ensures a smooth dough and classic old fashioned thumbprint cookies texture. Creaming the butter and sugar well creates a light base, while the egg yolk adds richness without making the cookies puff up too much. Flour and salt are added gradually to form a soft, pliable dough that holds its shape when pressed. Proper shaping and gentle filling help prevent spreading and cracking, giving you bakery-style thumbprint cookies with jam or chocolate centers.

Careful baking is essential. These thumbprint cookies bake quickly, so watching the edges rather than the tops ensures perfectly tender cookies. Whether you’re making raspberry thumbprint cookies, chocolate thumbprint cookies, or thumbprint cookies with Hershey kisses, following these steps guarantees beautiful results every time.

— Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
— Cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy
— Mix in egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully combined
— Gradually add all-purpose flour and salt to form a soft dough
— Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet
— Press an indentation into each dough ball using your thumb or spoon
— Fill centers with raspberry jam, chocolate, or preferred filling
— Bake thumbprint cookies for 12–14 minutes until edges are lightly golden
— Cool briefly before serving or decorating with icing or chocolate drizzle

Expert Cooking Tips

Mastering thumbprint cookies comes down to small details that make a big difference in texture, shape, and flavor. Always use room-temperature butter to achieve smooth, evenly mixed dough and classic old fashioned thumbprint cookies consistency. Chilling the dough briefly before shaping helps prevent spreading and keeps the thumbprint cookies thick with defined centers. When creating the indentations, press gently to avoid cracking, especially if you’re making thumbprint cookies with jam or raspberry thumbprint cookies.

Choosing the right filling also matters. Thick jam works best to prevent overflow, while chocolate should be added carefully to avoid melting too quickly. For thumbprint cookies with Hershey kisses, insert the chocolate immediately after baking so it softens without losing shape. Avoid overbaking, as thumbprint cookies continue to set while cooling and should remain tender in the center. These expert techniques ensure flavorful, bakery-quality thumbprint cookies every time, whether for holidays, cookie trays, or everyday baking.

— Use softened, not melted, butter for proper dough structure
— Chill dough 15–20 minutes to reduce spreading
— Roll dough balls evenly for uniform thumbprint cookies
— Press indentations gently to prevent cracks
— Use thick jam for raspberry thumbprint cookies
— Add Hershey kisses immediately after baking
— Watch edges closely to avoid overbaking
— Cool cookies before adding icing or chocolate drizzle

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Raspberry Cookies Recipe: Soft, Sweet, and Easy to Make

Thumbprint cookies are the kind of recipe that never goes out of style. With their buttery texture, simple ingredients, and endless filling options, these classic cookies fit perfectly into everyday baking and special occasions alike. Whether you choose raspberry jam, chocolate, icing, or Hershey kisses, this thumbprint cookies recipe delivers consistent, homemade results with minimal effort. Inspired by comforting, family-focused cooking, these old fashioned thumbprint cookies are easy to customize, fun to make, and always a crowd favorite. Bake them for holidays, cookie swaps, or quiet moments at home, and enjoy a timeless dessert that brings warmth, nostalgia, and joy to every bite.

Thumbprint Cookies

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• Author: Savannah
• Total Time: ~45 minutes
• Yield: 24 cookies 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Classic buttery thumbprint cookies with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a sweet center filled with raspberry jam, chocolate, or icing. These old-fashioned thumbprint cookies are perfect for holidays, cookie exchanges, or anytime you want a simple yet elegant dessert.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

🛒 Ingredients (Makes about 24 cookies):

For the Cookies:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

For the Filling (choose one or mix & match):

½ cup raspberry jam or strawberry jam
OR
24 Hershey’s Kisses (milk or dark chocolate)
OR
½ cup melted chocolate or icing

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Instructions

📝 Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.

Step 2: Shape the Cookies

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to gently press an indentation into the center of each cookie.

Step 3: Fill

Fill each indentation with about ½ teaspoon of jam.
If using Hershey Kisses, bake cookies first and press the kiss into the center immediately after baking.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Step 5: Optional Finishing Touch

 

Once cooled, drizzle with melted chocolate or icing for extra sweetness and a bakery-style look.

Notes

• Prevent Cracking: Chill the dough for 15–20 minutes before rolling.
• Flavor Swap: Use almond extract instead of vanilla for a classic bakery flavor.
• Chocolate Version: Roll dough balls in cocoa-sugar for chocolate thumbprint cookies.
• Holiday Favorite: Raspberry thumbprint cookies are perfect for Christmas trays.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12–14 minutes
• Category: Dessert / Cookies
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: American