Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Thumbprint Cookies

Soft, chewy butter cookies with crisp edges and a glossy jam center. Easy to bake, hard to stop eating.

Author By Matt Campbell
4.9
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Thumbprint cookies are one of those “quietly dangerous” bakes. You tell yourself you will have one with coffee, then you are standing at the counter doing quality control until the jam wells mysteriously empty. These are soft and chewy in the middle, with just enough crisp edge to make the texture feel fancy, plus a buttery vanilla base that tastes like it belongs on a holiday platter and a Tuesday night.

This recipe keeps the ingredient list simple and the instructions low drama. The key is a quick chill so the cookies hold their shape, and filling the wells at the right moment so the jam stays glossy instead of soaking into the dough. If you have jam and butter, you are basically already halfway there.

Why It Works

  • Soft and chewy centers: A classic creamed butter and sugar base plus the right bake time keeps these tender.
  • Crisp, golden edges: Rolling in sugar gives you that subtle crunch without turning the whole cookie crunchy (and it is optional).
  • Jam that stays pretty: You fill after the first bake, so the center sets up glossy and bright instead of disappearing into the cookie.
  • Make-ahead friendly: Dough balls freeze beautifully, and the baked cookies store well for sharing or sneaking.

Pairs Well With

  • Strong coffee or espresso

  • Cold milk, dairy or oat

  • Black tea with lemon

  • Vanilla ice cream for cookie sandwiches

Storage Tips

Room temperature: Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 to 5 days. Place parchment between layers to protect the jam centers.

Re-crisp the edges (optional): If they soften a bit, pop cookies on a sheet pan in a 300°F oven for 3 to 4 minutes. The jam will get very hot, so let cookies cool completely before eating or stacking.

Freeze baked cookies: Freeze in a single layer until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag with parchment between layers. Best within 2 months. Thaw at room temp.

Freeze the dough (best move): Roll dough into balls, chill until firm, then freeze. Bake from frozen by adding 1 to 2 minutes to the first bake, then re-press, fill, and finish as written.

Common Questions

Why did my thumbprints crack?

Usually the dough is a little dry or too cold when you press. Let the dough sit at room temp for 5 minutes, then press again gently. Also make sure you measured flour correctly. Spoon and level it, do not pack it.

Can I fill them before baking?

You can, but I do not recommend it for this soft style. Filling after the first bake keeps the jam brighter and helps it stay in a neat pool instead of melting outward or soaking in.

What jam works best?

Thicker jams and preserves are easiest: raspberry, strawberry, apricot, cherry. If yours is runny, you can stir in 1 teaspoon chia seeds and let it sit 10 minutes (this can help it gel, and you will see the seeds). Or simmer the jam for a couple minutes to thicken, then cool completely. If your preserves are super chunky, give them a quick stir or mash so they spoon neatly into the wells.

Can I use something besides jam?

Yes. Nutella, dulce de leche, lemon curd, or thick chocolate ganache all work. Add them after the first bake, just like jam.

How do I keep the centers from puffing up?

Make a deep enough well and re-press if needed right when they come out of the first bake. Use the back of a teaspoon if you want super neat wells.

Do I have to roll them in sugar?

Nope. It adds a crisp edge and a little sparkle, but you can skip it if you prefer a less-sweet cookie. The dough still bakes up nicely.

Can I use salted butter?

Yes. Use salted butter and reduce the added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.

I started making thumbprints because they feel like the easiest way to look like you tried harder than you did. You roll a few dough balls, make a tiny crater, add jam, and suddenly it is a bakery situation. The first time I made these “soft and chewy” on purpose, I pulled them a minute earlier than my instincts wanted. That is the whole trick. Let them cool, let the jam set, and then pretend you did not eat the slightly lopsided tester cookie over the sink.