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Really Good Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

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You’ll love these classic thumbprint cookies

vintage jadeite mixing bowl, measuring spoons, various baking items

Really Good Thumbprint Cookies

thumbprint cookies decorated for Christmas

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Eating thumbprint cookies is one of my favorite memories of growing up. We had
a local bakery that always displayed a beautiful variety of colors and I could
never resist. My favorites were the ones in spring that had pink, green, and
yellow glaze, but they all had the same yummy flavor.

girls baking thumbprint cookies

In recent years I’ve enjoyed having a baking day in December with my daughters
and my mom, and sometimes my niece. One of the things we love to bake are good
old-fashioned thumbprint cookies. And last year I made some yummy
red velvet whoopie pies.

green icing being drizzled on a thumbprint cookie

Admittedly, I eat too many of these little gems. They’re just so easy to pop
in your mouth and enjoy. And they’re so darn good! It’s impossible to resist
them. (Another cookie I love to eat is
old-fashioned peanut butter cookies.)

thumbprint cookies with red and green frosting

We’ve used a recipe from an old
Southern Living Cookbook
for years but I tweaked it by adding a bit of almond extract. I think it’s
better than ever!

A few fun facts about thumbprint cookies:

  1. Where did thumbprint cookies originate? 
    Many believe that they were first made in Poland, Sweden, or the
    Jewish communites of Europe. 
  2. In Sweden, they were traditionally made with raspberry jam. The
    little indention for the jam was created by using their thumbs. The
    Swedish name for them is “hallongrotta”, which means “raspberry
    cave”. 
  3. They have also been called butterball, bird’s nest, and Polish tea
    cakes. 
  4. They are believed to have originated sometime in the 1800’s.

cookie baking ingredients on marble background

Here’s the recipe for these delicious little bite-sized cookies. They’re super
simple to make and you probably have all of the ingredients in your
pantry. 



Yield: About 36 cookies

Author: Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge

Really Good Thumbprint Cookies

Really Good Thumbprint Cookies

These irresistible thumbprint cookies will quickly be your favorite.
They’re easy to make and are loved by everyone. Makes a wonderful
gift.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinChill time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 30 M

Ingredients

Ingredients for Dough

  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for Glaze

  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons of milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • A few drops of food coloring. I use this one for intense colors:
    Concentrated Food Coloring
  • Sprinkles
    (optional)

Instructions

Cookie Dough

  1. Cream butter and gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed of an
    electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  2. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. Stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl.  Slowly add to the
    creamed mixture. Mix well.
  5. Chill dough at least one hour.
  6. Shape chilled dough into 1″ round balls. 
  7. Place 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
  8. Flatten cookie balls slightly, then press thumb into each cookie
    leaving an indention large enough for icing.
  9. Bake at 300° for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not brown.
  10. Cool on wire racks. 
  11. Using a spoon, add about 1/2 teaspoon of glaze into each cookie
    indention.

Glaze

  1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth. 
  2. Add a few drops of
    food coloring
    if desired.
  3. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon onto each cookie.
  4. Note: if desired, you may substitute strawberry or raspberry
    preserves for glaze. If you do, bake the cookies for 15 minutes,
    spoon on the preserves, then bake an additional 5 minutes.

Recommended Products:

Concentrated Food Coloring

Stand Mixer

Aluminum Cookie Sheet

Created using
The Recipes Generator


Happy baking! Let me know if you make these thumbprint cookies and how you
like them!

christmas thumbprint cookie recipe


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