Name: Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1 large egg, divided; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup chopped peanuts; 3 Tablespoons red jelly; 3 Tablespoons green jelly

Jump to Recipe

You can never have too many Christmas Cookies, especially when they’re as good as these! Jelly Thumbprint Cookies are packed with peanuts and a sweet jelly center. They’re so delicious you’re going to want to keep them all to yourself!

These Jam Thumbprint Cookies are thin and soft and melt in your mouth like a shortbread cookie! Try both thumbprints and let me know what you think!

Thumbprint Cookies: delicious cookies wrapped in chopped peanuts and a dollop of jelly! Festive for Christmas!

Table of Contents hide

1 Why this Recipe is Best

2 How to make Thumbprint Cookies

3 What Jelly to Use

4 Storage

5 Can you freeze thumbprint cookies?

6 Tips & Tricks

7 More Cookie Recipes

8 Thumbprint Cookies

Why this Recipe is Best

Thumbprint Cookies make their way to our family Christmas dessert table every year. Either my aunt or grandma will bake a batch, usually with a combination of green and red jelly.

And truth be told, I’ve never eaten them. Not once. In all the years growing up, they were there, taunting me with their gooey jelly centers.

And I always chose these peppermint puffs. Or chocolate peanut butter fudge. Or Sugar Cookies. Never once choosing the thumbprint Christmas cookie.

For whatever reason, the odd looking cookies never grabbed my attention.

Until now. A month or two ago as I was unpacking some of my cookbooks and recipe cards and I came across our family recipe for Jelly Thumbprint Cookies.

Clearly it was a sign that I needed to make them myself and finally taste the cookies I’d seen every Christmas for all those years.

So I did. And you know what?

THEY ARE FREAKING DELICIOUS.

I’m sorry I yelled. But I’m truly wondering: why have I avoided these cookies all these years? As I child, sure, it’s understandable I’d choose something chocolate filled instead.

But as an adult? Well, there is no excuse.

How to make Thumbprint Cookies

STEP 1. Make dough balls

Blend butter with an egg yolk, sugar, flour and almond extract. Then, form the dough into 1 inch balls using your hands.

STEP 2. Add nuts

In a small bowl, whisk egg white until frothy. Dip each cookie dough ball into the egg white, then roll in the chopped peanuts. You may need to press down gently so the nuts stick to the dough.

STEP 3. Thumbprints

Here comes to thumb print part!Place the cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Using your thumb, gently press the center of each cookie to make an indent.

Place about a teaspoon of jelly into each indent. I did half the cookies with green jelly and half with red.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-14 minutes, until nuts begin to brown. Cool completely.

What Jelly to Use

This time I used strawberry jelly and green grape jelly so I’d have Christmas colors, but the kind of jelly you use in these cookies is up to you.

Purple grape jelly would be pretty in these cookies and give them a classic “PB&J” taste. Raspberry and orange are other great flavors to use in your thumbprint cookies. Our homemade strawberry jam would be perfect.

Jam and other preserves are good in thumbprint cookies if you prefer, but I find the jelly gives them an extra sparkly appearance!

Storage

Once cooled, transfer the thumbprint cookies to an airtight container. They’ll keep well at room temperature for about 5 days.

Can you freeze thumbprint cookies?

Lots of you like to make cookies ahead of time and stash them in your freezer, so I’ll answer this in advance: YES, thumbprint cookies can be frozen. I’d recommend placing a layer of wax paper over the cookies then putting them in a freezer safe bag.

You can also make the dough ahead of time to freeze for whenever you want some freshly baked thumbprint cookies. Freeze them in balls, then just thaw, press, fill with jelly and bake.

Tips & Tricks

When it comes to jelly, less is more in this recipe. One teaspoon may not sound like a lot, but I promise you it’s plenty for each cookie. Too much jelly will spill out and burn as the cookies bake.
To make evenly shaped cookies, use a tablespoon to evenly measure the dough into one inch balls. You can also use a food scale, if you have one.
These are such fun Christmas cookies for the kids to help with! They will love making the thumbprints and spooning in the jam.
Love this classic flavor? Try our Peanut Butter and Jelly Fudge or our Peanut Butter and Jelly Brownies next!

Yield: 24 cookies

Thumbprint Cookies

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 22 minutes

Pin Print

Delicious cookies for the holidays!! Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint cookies; so good the adults may not share!

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg, divided
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup chopped peanuts
3 Tablespoons red jelly
3 Tablespoons green jelly

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, blend butter, sugar, egg yolk and almond extract. Add in flour and salt until completely combined. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
In a small bowl, whisk egg white until frothy. Place chopped nuts into a separate small bowl.
Dip each ball into egg white then roll in nuts (pressing gently so they stick). Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Using thumb, gently press the center of each cookie to make an indent. Place about a teaspoon of jelly into each indent.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-14 minutes, until nuts begin to brown. Cool completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days. ENJOY.

Notes

When it comes to jelly, less is more in this recipe. One teaspoon may not sound like a lot, but I promise you it's plenty for each cookie. Too much jelly will spill out and burn as the cookies bake.

To make evenly shaped cookies, use a tablespoon to evenly measure the dough into one inch balls. You can also use a food scale, if you have one.

These are such fun Christmas cookies for the kids to help with! They will love making the thumbprints and spooning in the jam.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 108Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 43mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g

*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

So learn from my mistakes and don’t go half your life without trying Jelly Thumbprint Cookies! Make a batch of these cookies with the kids tonight. Just don’t forget to save some for Santa!