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    Where Is My Spoon > Sweet Recipes > Cookies

    Published: Dec 8, 2017 · Modified: Nov 23, 2021 by Adina · 8 Comments

    Classic Thumbprint Cookies

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    The easiest and best recipe I know for thumbprint cookies with jam. A classic thumbprint cookie recipe that everybody should make.

     

    JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

     

    Easy Five Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies with Jam

     

    Only five ingredients and less than half an hour actual work and you will be rewarded with some of the best cookies I know: classic thumbprint cookies or Engelsaugen (Angel's Eyes) in German or ochi de pisica (Cat's Eyes) in Romanian.

    Different names in different languages, but basically the same recipe for the same cookies, these thumbprint cookies seem to be traditional in many countries.

    These are indeed cookies I used to eat from time to time as a child as well. My grandmother never made them, she never baked anything sweet except her famous Cozonac – Romanian sweet bread with walnuts (which I didn't like at all in my childhood... figure that!).

    But I actually did eat these classic thumbprint cookies with jam or cat's eyes quite a few times. I don't exactly remember where, it must have been either in my aunt's house or in my step-grandmother's house, she used to love baking and she baked lots, so if I ever got to eat any cake in my childhood it was probably in her house.

     

    Easy Five Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies with Jam

     

    INGREDIENTS FOR CLASSIC THUMBPRINT COOKIES

    As mentioned above, you will only need 5 ingredients to make the classic thumbprint cookie recipe.

    All-purpose flour

    Unsalted butter:

    • In Germany many people use margarine as well, when making thumbprint cookies or any other German cookies, but I am not a fan, I rarely use margarine for anything.

    Sugar:

    • You will need regular sugar for the cookie dough and a sprinkle of icing sugar for the baked thumbprint cookies. The icing sugar is optional.

    Egg

    Jam or jelly:

    • Use whatever jelly or jam you have and like, but preferably a tarter kind of jam.
    • My favorite is redcurrant jam. However, I made these classic thumbprint cookies with plum or cheery butter and with blackberry or raspberry jelly as well.
    • Ideally, you will use jellies as they are smoother and look better in the end, but as far as taste is concerned it really doesn't matter if you use jam or jelly.
    • To make the jam a bit smoother I whizzed it in the kitchen machine for a few seconds, but that is not really necessary.

     

    Easy Five Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies with Jam

     

    HOW TO MAKE THUMBPRINT COOKIES?

    Well, you will have a hard time finding an easier cookie recipe.

    Cookies are generally very easy to make, but these thumbprint cookies are even easier than most cookies: no fancy ingredients, just basic, cheap ones, no need to place the dough in the fridge for a while before baking, no cutters necessary, you basically cannot go wrong with these thumbprint cookies.

    Measuring ingredients:

    • For best results, you should use a scale for measuring the ingredients. A kitchen scale is really inexpensive and it makes life so much easier. The baking process will be smoother, more pleasant and the results superior.
    • And if you don't measure the flour exactly and have too little of it, the cookies might spread too much during baking. If you have too much flour, the cookies will be tough, not as delicate as they are supposed to be.

    How to make the dough:

    • Place the flour, butter/margarine, sugar and egg into the bowl of a stand mixer and process shortly until the mixture resembles streusel. You can use a regular bowl and a hand mixer as well.
    • Turn the dough onto the working surface and knead very shortly to bring the dough together and form a ball.
    • Break small pieces of dough and form little balls, about as large as a cherry.
    • Press with the thumb in the middle of each ball to form a well.
    • Add a small amount of jelly or jam into each well using a teaspoon.
    • Place the first batch of thumbprint cookies on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

     

    Easy Five Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies with Jam

     

    HOW TO BAKE THE THUMBPRINT COOKIES?

    1. Preheat the oven before you start making the cookies.
    2. Place one batch of thumbprint cookies on the baking tray and place it in the oven.
    3. While this first batch of cookies bakes, you can already make the second batch and place the cookies on the second tray lined with baking paper.
    4. Having at least two baking trays or cookies sheets when making cookies is important, unless you only bake a very small batch every time.
    5. I have three baking trays and three cooling racks and sometimes I wish I would have one more of each to make the cookie baking process faster and easier.
    6. Bake the thumbprint cookies with jam for about 10 to 15 minutes until very slightly golden. Check the first batch repeatedly after the first 10 minutes, the cookies should not get too dark, they should remain pretty pale.
    7. Leave the baked cookies rest on the baking tray for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
    8. Don't place the second batch of cookies on the hot baking tray, you run the risk that the cookies will spread. Let the tray cool completely or use another tray.
    9. When cold dust with icing sugar, if you wish.

    HOW TO STORE THUMBPRINT COOKIES?

    The classic thumbprint cookies should be kept in airtight containers, between sheets of waxed paper (or parchment paper), so that the jam won't stick on the bottom side of the upper layer of cookies.

    They will keep for at least one week in an airtight container.

     

    Easy Five Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies with Jam

     

    Other Christmas cookies recipes:

    Chewy German Hazelnut Macaroons - Nussmakronen
    Vanilla Crescents with Hazelnuts - Austrian Vanillekipferl
    Heidesand - German Sugar Rolled Marzipan Butter Cookies
    Spitzbuben - German Star Shaped Almond Jam Cookies
    German Chocolate Crossies - Chocolate Cornflakes Crispy Cookies

     

    PIN IT FOR LATER!

     

    thumbprint cookies with jam sprinkled with icing sugar

     

    classic thumbprint cookies with icing sugar

    Classic Thumbprint Cookies

    The easiest and best recipe I know for thumbprint cookies with jam. A classic thumbprint cookie recipe that everybody should make.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Cookies
    Cuisine: German, American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 60
    Calories: 56kcal
    Author: Adina
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    Ingredients 

    • 300 g all-purpose flour 10.6 oz/ 2 ½ cups
    • 200 g unsalted butter 7 oz/ ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon, room temperature
    • 100 g sugar 3.5 oz/ ½ cup
    • 1 egg medium Germany, large US
    • jelly or jam of choice preferably a tart variety (I used redcurrant jam)
    • icing sugar optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
    • Dough: Place the flour, soft butter, sugar, and egg into the stand mixer bowl and process shortly until the mixture resembles streusel. Alternatively, mix the dough in a regular bowl with a hand mixer.
    • Form cookies: Turn the dough onto the working surface and knead very shortly to bring the dough together and form a ball. Break small pieces of dough and form little balls about as large as a cherry. Press with the thumb in the middle of each ball to create a well.
    • Fill with jelly: Mix the jelly or jam very well with a spoon to make it smooth and easily spreadable. Next, add a small amount of jelly or jam into each well using a teaspoon.
    • Bake: Place the first batch of thumbprint cookies on one of the prepared baking trays. Next, place in the preheated oven and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes until very slightly golden. Check the first batch repeatedly after the first 10 minutes, the cookies should not get too dark, they should remain pretty pale.
    • Second batch: While the first batch of cookies is in the oven, prepare the second batch. Place the new batch on the second prepared tray (never place the cookies on a hot baking tray, they will spread too much).
    • Rest: Leave the baked cookies on the baking tray for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • When cool dust with icing sugar, if you wish.
    • Store: They will keep for at least one week in an airtight container, arranged between sheets of waxed or parchment paper.

    Notes

    Use a digital kitchen scale to measure the ingredients when baking; it guarantees for best results.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 2mg | Sugar: 3g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris Scheuer says

      December 08, 2017 at 12:58 pm

      I could eat my weight in these cookies! So pretty too!

      Reply
    2. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      December 08, 2017 at 1:36 pm

      They are my favourite! Love your simple easy recipe, Adina.

      Reply
    3. Amy Kugali McWilliams says

      December 08, 2017 at 2:59 pm

      This is my family's holiday cookie! The only variation we do is adding a dash of almond extract to the dough... it gives it this really incredible and different flavor that compliments the jam really well! I encourage you to try it too! Love these cookies 🙂

      Reply
      • Adina says

        December 08, 2017 at 9:20 pm

        I will try that next time, Amy. Thank you. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Holly says

      December 23, 2018 at 2:04 am

      Omg these were delicious if you do a double batch add 3 eggs and 2 to 3 tablespoons of vanilla

      Reply
      • Adina says

        December 23, 2018 at 8:37 am

        Thank you for your feedback, Holly. So glad you like the thumbprint cookies, they are some of our favorite as well.

        Reply
    5. Julie says

      July 03, 2019 at 7:26 pm

      This recipe looks delicious. Can you freeze these cookies?

      Reply
      • Adina says

        July 03, 2019 at 10:20 pm

        Hi Julie. I have never done it, but I've just googled it and found out you can freeze thumbprint cookies. Better do it between layers of waxed paper and in big ziplocs.

        Reply

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