The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies Ever - Perfect for Holiday Baking! ~ Diane's Vintage Zest!

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies Ever - Perfect for Holiday Baking!

Disclosure

It's almost, almost time to eat that turkey, stuffing, cornbread, sweet potatoes...  and then just like that it will be time for the holiday rush!  This year, I thought it was time to streamline my cookie recipes so I could get them done in a fraction of the time.  Still, they would have to be impressive enough to bring to all of the holiday parties we have coming up!  I have a popular butter cookie recipe on the blog, which I wanted to sweeten up just a bit more for the perfect holiday treat.  That's where the idea for these easy, delicious thumbprint cookies filled with jam came from!  This recipe is super simple with easy-to-find ingredients, a quick prep time plus cooking time, and very little cleanup.  You basically just throw everything into your stand mixer's bowl.  Easy!  I hope you add these cookies to your holiday baking list!

Also, to celebrate the holidays, Walmart is having a Pinterest Contest where you can win $250!  For all of the details on how to enter in a few simple steps, make sure to read at the end of the post!




You may wonder how these cookies are different from any other thumbprint cookies.  First of all, I have made thumbprint cookies several times, and there is something usually just a bit off about them.  One time, I practically wore out my food processor trying to pulse whole almonds.  Another one asked for only egg yolks, which just seemed like extra work to separate egg whites for no reason.  Others added all kind of odd ingredients like coconut, shortening, or espresso.  Really, I love just a basic, traditional thumbprint cookie with butter, sugar, flour, whole eggs, jam, and not much else!


The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 2


On a side note, I used several kinds of jam and preserves for this recipe: Strawberry (2 kinds), blackberry, apple jelly, and lemon curd!  The strawberry preserves and lemon curd were from my London trip earlier this year (see the Travel tab above) and the other ones were from gift baskets we received.  It's a wonderful way to use (and enjoy) your favorite fruity concoction.  I would not use a very chunky preserves, even though it would taste good, only because it would end up as an uneven cookie.  Otherwise, let your imagination go wild!

Now, lets get to the recipe... finally!


The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 3

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies - Ever!
A Vintage Zest Original

Ingredients
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted Land O' Lakes butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Your choice of jam, jelly, or lemon curd, about 1/4 cup total needed

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Note: I headed to Walmart to buy the unsalted Land O' Lakes butter because I prefer to use unsalted butter when I bake.  I can always adjust by adding more salt later on!

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 4

Directions

1. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium to high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

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The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 7

2.  Add the egg and vanilla extract.

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3. Add the flour and salt.  Beat until the dough begins to stick together in a ball.

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4. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet either lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Tip:  I like to use a very small ice cream scoop to ensure they are all the same size!

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5. Flatten balls slightly with your thumb or the back of a small spoon, leaving an indentation in the center.

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The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 13


6. Bake at 375F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms are just beginning to brown.

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7. Once the tray is removed, if the indentations are too shallow, repress with your thumb or a spoon (if it is too hot).

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 15


8. Fill each cookie with jam, approximately 1/2 teaspoon.

Note: I chose not to bake the lemon curd, so the cookies are unfilled on the right.

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9. Bake for 3 to 4 minutes, until the jam has slightly melted and the edges are a golden brown.

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That's it!  I love how pretty and dainty these look.  They will definitely be a hit at your next cookie exchange or holiday party.

Now to the Pinterest Contest details!!!

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 19

For your chance to win a $250 gift card from Walmart, here is how to enter:

  1. Follow Land O’Lakes on Pinterest, user: LandoLakesKtchn
  2. Enter your email in the form below below and click “Enter”
  3. Pin the image below to any of your Pinterest Boards
  4. Visit the Holiday Treats Board and share your favorites!


Good luck!

The Easiest Thumbprint Cookies with Land O' Lakes Holiday Baking #ad #HolidayButter #shop #cbias 20




21 comments:

  1. These looks like the perfect, classic holiday cookie! #client

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  2. These look great! So easy and I always have these ingredients on hand. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. These are beautiful and I love Land O Lakes butter...serisouly! Can't wait to try these out, I have a similar recipe but I always like to try new ones. Thanks for linking up to the recipe exchange. xoxo Sandra @ A Dash of Sanity

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  4. Yum, looks like a good way to get kids involved in cookie making. I've started cookie baking too if you want to take a look:)

    www.curriedcantaloupe.com

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  5. I do love an easy thumbprint cookie without all the extra work. These look delicious!!!

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  6. Hi Diane,

    Your cookies look delicious. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party. Have a great week.

    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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  7. These look delicious! :)

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  8. It really is! I might have eaten a couple for breakfast... they're that good!

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  9. Exactly! It's a pain to take a grocery store trip for a single ingredient, but this is a painless recipe!

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  10. Great! This is definitely one of my favorite cookie recipes now that I've tweaked it!

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  11. True! It's super easy and you could make mini thumbprint cookies too. :)

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  12. Looks so good. I've never made thumbprint cookies but I've always wanted to. Maybe with such a simple recipe I'll give it a try, thanks for sharing on Recipe Sharing Mondays! Happy Holidays and HUGS!

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  13. These sound great. I made my first thumbprints this year. Thank you for linking up with Recipe Writers!


    Amanda Rose
    sewmuch2say.com

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  14. Thanks! They are so simple for being really delicious. :)

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  15. These look and sound delicious! So glad you shared them on Project Inspired. :)

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  16. Those look delicious and super easy to make. I love baking cookies with my teen. Thanks so much for linking up at the Best of the Blogosphere linky party!

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I love to hear your comments! And putting in your two cents is always free. :)

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