Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make with only 5 ingredients! Buttery, sweet, delicious Jam Thumbprint Cookies everyone will love!
These cute little raspberry cookies have been a family favorite for so many years! They're a staple at our holiday table, and once you try them - I think they'll be a staple at your table too!
Buttery, sweet and delicious - these cookies are a must try!
If you love sweet raspberry cookies, try our Raspberry Linzer Cookies!
What are Thumbprint Cookies?
Thumbprint cookies are a shortbread cookie often made by pressing your thumb in the center of the cookie and filling it with jam before baking. They can be made in many flavors, but are often raspberry flavored.
You will love these Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
- Delicious: Butter, sweet, and SO yummy!
- Cheap: With grocery store costs on the rise, this is a delicious, budget-friendly dessert, especially with only 5 ingredients!
- So easy! : With only 5 ingredients this recipe comes together very easily and quickly.
Ingredients for Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- salted butter
- White sugar
- Egg yolk
- All-purpose flour
- Raspberry jam
How to make Thumbprint Shortbread Cookies
- Cream the butter. Gradually add the sugar and egg yolk.
- Add the flour and mix.
- Optional: chill the dough for an hour to prevent the cookies from spreading.
- Form dough into ½ tablespoon balls.
- Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. The cookies do spread a bit so leave the room.
- Make an indent in the center of the dough with your thumb and fill it with jam.
- Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until light brown for 10-12 minutes.
Raspberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe Substitutions
Salted Butter: Butter is essential to this recipe. We haven't tried it with dairy-free butter but it might work!
Sugar: We don't recommend substituting white sugar unless you have to, but White sugar can be used interchangeably with brown sugar. You can add 1 teaspoon of molasses to white sugar to make brown sugar. Check out this post on Sugar Substitutes for Baking for other ideas.
Eggs: We don't recommend substituting eggs, but you can read this article on Egg Substitutions for Baking if you need to substitute. Try it at your own risk!
All Purpose Flour: We don't recommend substituting the flour, but you can check out this article on Cake Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour or Substitutions for All-Purpose Flour
Raspberry Jam: Choose your favorite Raspberry Jam, we prefer seedless red raspberry jam. If you love raspberry, try our Raspberry Swirl Pound Cake.
Chocolate: These Chocolate Caramel Cookies are similar to these jam thumbprints except they have a rich chocolate flavor and they're filled with caramel!
Easy Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Tips
- Chill the dough: To prevent cracking of your cookie dough, we recommend chilling the dough for an hour.
- Make ahead of time: Prepare the cookie dough up to 24hrs ahead of time. Makes holiday baking a lot easier when you can plan ahead.
- Choose your favorite jam!: You don't have to stick with raspberry jam, try multiple jams or another favorite. (We love Lemon Thumbprint Cookies too!)
How to store Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
We recommend storing these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Should I refrigerate thumbprint cookies with jam?
It isn't necessary to refrigerate these thumbprint cookies as there is only a tiny bit of jam on the cookie. If you expect to keep these cookies longer than 2 weeks, then I would recommend refrigerating them.
How long are thumbprint cookies good for?
Store leftover thumbprint cookies at room temperature in an airtight container or cookie jar for up to 2 weeks.
How do you freeze thumbprint cookies?
Freeze thumbprint cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Freezing Cookie Dough: You can freeze this cookie dough, but we don't recommend it. If you are going to freeze, wrap the dough tightly in saran wrap and then put in a freezer bag.
Check out this post for How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips on saving cookie dough for later.
Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies FAQs
Flat thumbprint cookies are likely a result of butter that was too warm. We do recommend chilling the cookie dough for an hour before baking. This will resolidify the butter and keep the cookies from going flat.
To prevent cracked cookies press very gently when creating the indent with your thumb or a like tool. For perfect circle indents use the back of a teaspoon or the handle of a wooden spoon.
Thumbprint cookies are sweet, soft, and buttery. Whichever jam you choose will just help to enhance those flavors as well. Think, lightly buttered toast with jam. This is just permission to have some for breakfast!
Other Tasty Cookie Recipes:
- Best Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe
- Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies
- Delicious Hot Cocoa Cookies
Raspberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- Cream the butter. Gradually add the sugar and egg yolk.
- Add the flour and mix.
- Optional: chill the dough for an hour to prevent the cookies from spreading.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Form dough into ½ tablespoon balls.
- Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. The cookies do spread a bit so leave room.
- Make an indent in the center of the dough with your thumb and fill with jam.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until light brown for 10-12 minutes.
Sheila
These cookies were the perfect addition to my cookie trays this year! So delish!
Susannah Brinkley Henry
These cookies are my JAM! Truly some of my favorite cookies year-round.
Kathleen
Thumbprint cookies remind me of the holidays, I've got a batch in the oven now and the house smells amazing!
Debi
These were delicious. I made them for a work potluck & everyone asked for the recipe!