12 Days of Christmas Treats: Classic Thumbprint Cookies

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the 2014 edition of The 12 Days of Christmas Treats! Over 12 days we’ll bring you a new, scrumptious recipe for a holiday cookie, cake, or other sweet treat. Whether you leave them out for Santa or simply sample them all yourself is up to you, we just encourage you to try them all! Leave your comments below each recipe and upload a photo if you make your own batch at home. Season’s Eatings!

by Amy Johnson, Director of Communications & Administration, Rocket Sports Media

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Over the past 12 days we’ve traversed through a sensationally sweet journey of Christmas goodies, sampling an array of tasty cookies, desserts, and cocktails.  Today’s recipe is a classic, one that evokes childhood memories and always seems to disappear all too quickly.  Thumbprint cookies are fun to make with the little helpers in your family.  They can choose which flavors of jam to use, and they’ll get the most fun out of using their thumbs to create the signature indentation in each one.

Classic Thumbprint Cookies
Recipe Courtesy: MarthaStewart.com

Prep/Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min
Yield: about 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients: 
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped pistachios, crushed peppermints, or sanding sugar
1/2 cup apricot jam, raspberry jam (or experiment with your favorite flavors)

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined.

2. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.

3. Roll in finely chopped nuts, crushed candies, or sanding sugar, if using.

4. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing each 1 inch apart.  Press a well into the center of each using your finger.

5. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Remove from oven, and press well again with handle end of a wooden spoon.

6. Bake until firm, 7 to 9 minutes more.  Let cool completely. Spoon jam into thumbprints and let rest until set.

Thanks for baking your way through the 12 Days of Christmas Treats with us! If you missed any of our previous recipes in this series, take a moment to check them out below:

Day 1 – Chewy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Day 2 – Lemon-Ginger Wafers
Day 3 – Santa Hat Brownies
Day 4 – Walnut-Maple Sandies
Day 5 – English Pudding Petits Fours, Chocolate Raspberry Wreaths
Day 6 – Maple Butter Kiss Cocktail
Day 7 – Glazed Angel Food Cake
Day 8 – Warm and Fuzzy Cocoa
Day 9 – Pecan Pie Bars
Day 10 – Red Velvet Crackle Cookies
Day 11 – Pumpkin Caramel Swirl Cookies

Photo credits: Amy Johnson

Tags: apricot, baking, christmas, cookies, featured, holiday, holidays, Jam, raspberry, recipe, thumbprint