Thumbprint Cookies Recipe with Jam

Recipes for Christmas Cookies Thumbprints Rolled in Chopped Nuts

Dec 5, 2008 Donna Diegel

Thumbprints - Christmas cookie favorites are rolled in toasted pecans and filled with raspberry jam. Buttery cookies with nuts, brown sugar and a touch of almond extract.

With their bright red raspberry jam center, these festive Thumbprint cookies will liven up every Christmas cookie platter. Not just for Christmas cookie trays, Thumbprint Cookies also make a sweet addition to any Valentine's dessert tray!

How To Toast Pecans and Other Nuts

Pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds work very well in the Thumbprint Cookies recipe. The cookies taste even better if the nuts are toasted first. Place whole or halved pecans, walnuts or almonds on an ungreased sheet pan and toast in a 350 degree oven for 8-12 minutes, stirring a few times until light brown and fragrant. Hazelnuts take a little longer and need to have their paper-thin skins removed. Let cool completely before chopping in a food processor.

Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 beaten egg whites
2 cups toasted and finely chopped nuts
3/4 - 1 cup raspberry jam (or another choice of jam or marmalade)

Directions: How To Make Thumbprint Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat silicone sheet.
Place finely chopped toasted nuts in a large flat baking dish and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl and with a stand or hand-held mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the egg yolks and almond extract and beat again until light and fluffy. Scrape down the insides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. With mixer on low, add flour 1 cup at a time and mix just until dough is incorporated and no dry spots remain. With a cookie scoop or Tablespoon, measure out 1 1/4 inch balls of dough.
In a small bowl, whip 2 egg whites with a whisk or fork until they turn very foamy.
Dip a few balls at a time in the egg whites, shake off the excess, then roll them in nuts, coating the cookie dough completely.
Place the Thumbprints on the preparred baking sheets, leaving a little room between them to spread. Press thumb into the cookie dough leaving an imprint, and fill with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of jam, more or less.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-14 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Store in air-tight containers layered with parchment or waxed paper.
Makes 30 buttery Thumbprint Cookies!

Christmas Cookies for a Cookie Exchange or Cookie Tray!

Soft Sugar Cookies - Soft & buttery, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie rolled in red and green sugar or holiday sprinkles.

Peanut Butter Blossoms - Classic peanut butter cookie recipe, rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey's chocolate Kiss.

Mexican Wedding Cakes - Sometimes called Pecan Butter Balls or Russian Teacakes, these snow-white are made with ground pecans and rolled in powdered sugar.

Cherry Kisses Cookies - Pink and pretty with a Hershey's Kiss on top! Lots of color for Christmas cookie platters!

Snickerdoodles Cookies - A classic old-fashioned, made-from-scratch cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar.

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