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!
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.
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.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter- I prefer using unsalted butter, but if all you have is salted just remove the extra salt from the recipe. Use our tips on how to soften butter!
- Almond extract- adds a punch of flavor. If you don’t have it or don’t want to use it, swap it out for vanilla extract instead.
- Brown sugar- gives the cookies a soft and chewy texture.
Type of Jelly:
Red and green was our goal for holidays. My grandma always used a mint jelly and strawberry preserves.
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.
How to make Thumbprint Cookies
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.
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.
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.
Add Jelly and Bake.
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.
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 the cookie dough for whenever you want some freshly baked thumbprint cookies. Freeze them in balls, then just thaw, press, fill with jelly and bake.
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Thumbprint Cookies
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.
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.
- Once cooled, transfer the thumbprint cookies to an airtight container. They’ll keep well at room temperature for about 5 days.
- 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!
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks and substitutions.
Nutrition
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!
These look delicious! Just checking – so there’s no peanut butter in this recipe? Thank you!
No peanut butter, they are rolled in peanuts instead.
these would look great on a holiday cookie tray!
I love the peanut butter and jelly combo! I remember my mom used to make thumbprint cookies, but not that combo! YUM!
Thank you Christine. I bet your mom’s cookies are fantastic too 🙂
I’m with you on always going for the chocolate treats and not the jelly thumbprints. Now I know better 😉 Love the PB&J twist on them!
These are so fun and colorful!!! I am rolling at your family secret…don’t encourage the kids to eat the cookies, so you can have more. I love it 🙂
Shhhh….don’t tell my kiddos 🙂
Super fun cookies!! Would love a batch 🙂
Thanks Amanda…wish you were neighbors and I could send you a batch 🙂
These cookies look so festive and absolutely delicious! I’d love to have them on our cookie plate for the holidays! Pinned!
Such a fun flavor combo. Love those pretty colors!
Super cute! I am so excited for all things Christmas!
Okay Aimee.. I am like you, I’ve never tried them! Should that change this year?!
These are so pretty and festive. Making holiday baking fun!
I would totally convince the kids these weren’t worth eating and keep them all to myself! Love the peanut butter and jelly combo!
I love peanut butter and jelly spin on thumbprints — these are the perfect festive holiday cookie!
These are so pretty! I probably would have avoided them as a kid, too, but not these days!
I’ve never had thumbprints either!! OMG these look good!
Well I guess you have a lot of cookie eating to do to make up for lost time. They look delicious. Can never go wrong with PB+J!
Thumbprints with green and red jelly…this takes me back to the kind of thumbprints my grandma would make! I love the PB&J twist, too!
What kind of jelly did you use for the green jelly?
I used a mint jelly. Delicious 🙂
Must be hard to know that you spent so many years missing out on these! It’s cool, though. Now you can make up for lost time and eat a ton. They look awesome!
I don’t know what stopped me from trying them!! They are delicious!
Ah, those cookies sound delicious! Nothing like a classic thumbprint 🙂
Agreed 🙂