Perfect Christmas Thumbprint Cookies — Jam-Filled Holiday Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are the buttery jam-filled classic. Christmas tin staple. Beautiful when made well.

The classic recipe (makes 36)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raspberry or strawberry jam (Christmas-coded)
• Optional: powdered sugar for dusting

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Cream butter + sugar
3. Add yolks + vanilla
4. Mix in flour + salt
5. Refrigerate dough 30 min
6. Roll into 1-inch balls
7. Place on parchment-lined sheet
8. Press thumb in center (deep well)
9. Fill with jam (about 1/2 teaspoon each)
10. Bake 12-15 minutes
11. Cool; dust with powdered sugar

Variations

Raspberry-almond

• Add almond extract to dough
• Top with sliced almonds

Christmas-coded

• Half raspberry; half apricot
• Red and green effect

Lemon curd

• Replace jam with lemon curd
• Bright; tart

Chocolate-filled

• Fill with Nutella or chocolate ganache
• Decadent

Pecan-coated

• Roll in chopped pecans before baking
• Crunchy exterior

Storage

• Airtight container
• 5-7 days at room temp
• Layer with parchment

Gift presentation

• Christmas tin
• Multiple varieties
• Look beautiful together

Cross-references

For perfect Christmas sugar cookies — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas spritz cookies — adjacent.

For Christmas cookie recipes — broader.

For best Christmas cookies ranked — rankings.

Perfect Christmas thumbprint cookies are the buttery jam-filled classic. Christmas tin essential. Beautiful display. The cookie that defines Christmas tradition.