These Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are made with a simple cookie dough and loaded with toasted pecans and raspberry jam. Each bite of this classic Christmas cookie just crumbles and melts in your mouth.
Every December we have specific Christmas cookie recipes that we just HAVE to make, and this raspberry thumbprint cookie is one, along with Linzer Cookies and Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Recipe Details
My family loves these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies. This holiday classic is so easy, and it’s perfect for serving at parties, potlucks, and as an afternoon treat.
- TASTE: Sweet raspberry jam is paired with nutty cookie for a combination you won’t be able to resist.
- TEXTURE: These cookies are chewy and tender. The centers are made of gooey jam that’s perfectly sticky.
- TIME: This recipe takes about 50 minutes to make.
- EASE: This is an easy holiday recipe that you’ll want to make every year. It’s simple, yet perfectly festive for a quick cookie platter addition.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Butter– This gives the cookies their rich flavor. Use unsalted to control the salt level.
- Toasted pecans– These add a warm nuttiness to these cookies. Toasting them gives the best flavor.
- Raspberry jam– Homemade or store bought jam works here.
- Egg yolk- This acts as a binder that yields extra chewy and tender cookies.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute other flavor jams- Try this recipe with 3 Ingredient Strawberry Jam (no pectin), blueberry jam, apricot jam, peach jam, or any other that you like, including Chocolate Ganache.
- Make them gluten-free- Just substitute the flour for gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1:1, to make these cookies gluten-free.
- Add a glaze- Using a mixture of powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, you can make an icing that you can drizzle atop these cookies.
- Substitute the butter-Using plant-based butter makes these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies dairy-free.
How to Make Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- Cream the sugar. First, you’ll want to start off by combining softened butter and granulated sugar in a bowl, then add egg yolk and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients. Next, mix in the flour, salt, and chopped pecans. Now stir everything with a spatula until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Scoop out the dough. Now scoop out mounds of the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then make a cave or well in the middle of the cookie dough balls and fill it with raspberry jam.
Pro Tip: I like to use the back of a teaspoon to make the well. It’s the perfect size for this application.
- Bake. Then bake the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown in color.
Recipe Tips
- Sift the flour- Sifting the flour gets out any clumps and helps it mix more thoroughly with the other ingredients for the most incorporated cookie dough.
- Use a cookie scoop- Scoop the dough using a cookie scoop to get a uniform size so the cookies all cook at the same rate.
- Thumbprint with a teaspoon- This spoon is the perfect sizeHow to Make Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
To make these yummy cookies, start by forming the dough into small balls. Then, use your thumb to make an indent in the center of each ball. It’s important to indent the cookies in a uniform way before adding the jam to each one. This will help ensure that they bake evenly and look beautiful on your serving plate.
After preparing the cookies, it’s time to add the raspberry jam. Using a piping bag to pipe the jam into the indents in the cookies can help you to avoid overfilling and making a mess. This method ensures a neater result and makes the process so much easier.
FAQs
- What are thumbprint cookies?
Thumbprint cookies are made with a shortbread dough that can easily be shaped and molded. They all have a cave in the middle that holds some sort of filling. They are commonly filled with jam or chocolate ganache. The most common variation of this cookie is raspberry thumbprint cookies.
- Why are my thumbprint cookies cracking when putting thumbprint?
If the dough is too cold, it will crack when you apply pressure. The best thing to do if you have refrigerated your cookie dough is to allow it to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before making your thumbprint.
- Why did my thumbprint cookies flatten?
If your thumbprint cookies are coming out flat, then the oven is probably too hot. If the butter is melting too quickly, the cookies will flatten and spread. Make sure you bake the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Serving Suggestions
These delicious Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are perfect for adding to a holiday cookie plate, or for enjoying with desserts or coffee. Serve them with all your favorites.
- Cookies: Pair these cookies with some Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Pecan Shortbread Cookies, Gingersnap Cookies, or Chewy Nutella Cookies.
- Cakes: Enjoy them with a slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake (VIDEO), Tiramisu Cake (VIDEO), Flourless Chocolate Cake, or Gingerbread Cake.
- Pies/Cobbler: Serve them alongside a slice of Chocolate Cream Pie, Homemade Apple Pie Filling in a Homemade Pie Crust, Cherry Cobbler, or Blueberry Pie.
- Beverages: Enjoy these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies with a Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iced Caramel Macchiato, or Brown Sugar Boba.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: Make this cookie dough ahead of time and freeze or just keep it in the fridge for a few days until you’re ready to bake.
Storing: Store these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies in an airtight container once cooled for up to 5 days.
Freeze: If you don’t want to make the cookies right away, don’t worry, you can freeze the unbaked cookie dough in an airtight bag like ziplock, then keep it frozen for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the baked and cooled cookies for 3 months in an airtight container.
More Scrumptious Cookies!
- Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Jam
- Chewy Nutella Cookies
- Classic Shortbread Cookies
- Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies
This post has Amazon affiliate links for tools we used to make this recipe.
If you love cookies with nuts inside, you have to try my talented friend’s Hazelnut Cookies. Love, from MunchkinTime.com, has amazing recipes!
Watch a video on how to make these Thumbprint Cookies
Full Recipe Instructions
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
Crumbly thumbprint cookies with toasted pecans and raspberry jam. The perfect holiday cookie. - What are thumbprint cookies?
