My grandmother used to make these every December, and the smell of butter and vanilla baking would fill the entire house. I’d sneak one while they were still warm, and she’d pretend not to notice.
I made a batch yesterday afternoon, and my husband walked in from work, stopped mid-step, and said, “Is it Christmas already?” That’s the power of a good thumbprint cookie.
These are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth tender, with that perfect little jewel of jam nestled right in the center. The edges get just barely golden, and the cookie itself is so delicate it practically dissolves on your tongue. I used strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry jam because I couldn’t decide on just one, and honestly? Best decision ever.
They disappeared faster than I expected. My daughter ate three before dinner. No regrets.
**INGREDIENTS:**
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup jam (your favorite flavors—strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blueberry)
**INSTRUCTIONS:**
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add the egg yolks and vanilla, and mix until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt, then gradually add it to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined—don’t overwork it.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Use your thumb (or the back of a small spoon) to press a deep indent into the center of each cookie.
Fill each indent with about ½ teaspoon of jam. Don’t overfill or it’ll bubble over.
Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the edges are just barely golden. The centers should still look pale and soft.
Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
The jam will set as they cool, and the cookies will firm up just enough while staying incredibly tender.
These are perfect with coffee, perfect for gifting, perfect for sneaking straight off the cooling rack when no one’s looking. Be honest—how many would you eat in one sitting?