Skip to main content

Jam and Walnuts Thumbprint Cookies

Image
Jam-filled Thumbprint cookies have always been a big favorite on holiday cookie trays.  I think a good thumbprint cookie is buttery, with a touch of sweetness that pairs well with a not-too-sweet jam. 

Some favorite jam flavors for thumbprint cookies include apricot, raspberry, or currant.   The best jam flavor to use is whatever your family and friends love. It is nice to use a variety of jams in a batch of cookies.  Using a variety of jams will look attractive on your Christmas cookie tray.

Jam Thumbprints with Walnuts

I receive a small compensation that helps support publishing this blog when you shop using the affiliate links.
Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies

This thumbprint cookie recipe includes ground walnuts in the batter.  You'll find other recipes that roll the cookie in ground nuts before baking, but I like to mix my walnuts right into the batter.  
Jam thumbprint cookies are a classic holiday treat loved by people of all ages. They are made with simple ingredients and are easy to make, even for beginner cooks. Plus, they are incredibly delicious!

This recipe for jam thumbprint cookies is easy and traditional. It is perfect for home cooks who want to make a delicious and festive treat for their families.
Jump to Recipe

Why You'll Love Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Jam thumbprint cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that is perfect for any occasion. Here are just a few reasons why you'll love them:

They're customizable. You can use any flavor of jam or preserves you like, and you can also add nuts, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins to the dough. This makes them a great way to use up leftover jam or to create a unique dessert that everyone at the table will enjoy. Do you prefer hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds?  Well, go ahead and substitute the nut you prefer.  Make these cookies your own.

They're easy to make. Thumbprint cookies require minimal ingredients and equipment, making them a great recipe for beginner cooks. And, because they bake quickly, you can whip up a batch in no time.

They're delicious. The buttery cookie dough pairs perfectly with the sweet and tart jam, making for a truly irresistible treat.

They are perfect for sampling. One of the things I love about Christmas cookies is their size.  I love a tray filled with a variety of little sweet bites.  It's fun to sample all the goodies and making your cookies small encourages sampling. 

They're festive. Thumbprint cookies are a classic Christmas cookie, but they can be enjoyed any time of year. They're perfect for serving at gatherings or simply enjoying as a special treat.

How to Make Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Tips for Success

Grind the nuts finely. You'll want to use a food processor or nut grinder to make sure your nuts are ground up finely enough. Just be sure you don't grind them into a paste when using a food processor.  
Thumbprint Cookies

Weigh or measure your dough for a consistent size. I like to roll my thumbprint cookies into balls about a half ounce to an ounce each.  A digital kitchen scale is a handy tool to use to weigh each cookie for consistency.

Be consistent with the size of your indentation. Of course, the name of these cookies comes from the indentation you make in them to hold the jam. You can use your thumb, the back of a measuring spoon, or the handle of any kitchen tool that will give you the indentation you need.  

Be sure not to overfill the indentation with your jam.  Jam that bubbles over the cookie ruins the look but the cookie will still taste yummy.  It just won't look as pretty as you want it to look.

Use a variety of jams. You can use any flavor of jam or preserves that you like. For a fun twist, try using different jam colors to create a festive pattern on your cookies. To make peanut butter thumbprint cookies, substitute peanut butter for the jam.

Thumbprint Cookies Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use other types of flour in this recipe?
Yes, you can use other types of flour in this recipe, such as whole wheat flour or almond flour. However, the cookies may not turn out as light and fluffy as they would with all-purpose flour.

What if I don't have seedless jam or preserves?
If you don't have seedless jam or preserves, you can strain regular jam or preserves to remove the seeds.

Why are my cookies cracking?
If your cookies are cracking, it is likely because the dough is too dry. Make sure to add enough butter and milk to the dough so that it is moist but not sticky.

A batch of strawberry thumbprint on a rack.


Some Helpful Troubleshooting Tips

Weather and humidity can affect your dough. If your dough is too sticky, add more flour. If your dough is too dry, add more butter and milk.
If your cookies are spreading too much, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
If your cookies are browning too quickly, cover them with foil for the last few minutes of baking.

Jam thumbprint cookies are a delicious and festive treat that is perfect for the holiday season. They are easy to make, and they can be customized to your liking. Try this recipe today and enjoy these classic cookies with your family and friends!


Christmas cookies, cookie tray, Christmas cookie recipes
dessert
American
Yield: 36 cookies
Author: Donna Urso
Thumbprint Christmas Cookies

Thumbprint Christmas Cookies

Jam and walnuts enhance these tender thumbprint cookies. They are perfect for Christmas cookie trays or any time of year.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In the bowl of your electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat the egg yolks in one at a time. Add the vanilla.
  4. Stir in the flour and ground nuts until well combined.
  5. Scoop 1/2 ounce of dough and roll into balls about one inch in size. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for five minutes on the center rack of your oven. Remove the cookies from the oven, make an indentation in each and fill with jam.
  7. Return the cookies to the oven to bake for 10 more minutes. Cool the cookies for a few minutes in the pan before moving them to a rack to cool completely.
  8. Store in layers separated by waxed paper in a well-sealed container. Freeze for longer storage.

Notes

Be sure not to overfill the indentation with your jam. Jam that bubbles over the cookie ruins the look but the cookie will still taste yummy. It just won't look as pretty as you want it to look.

Recommended Products

Batter Bowl
USA Half Sheet Pans
Measuring Spoons

Nutrition Facts

Calories

105.11

Fat (grams)

7.32 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.46 g

Carbs (grams)

8.91 g

Fiber (grams)

0.39 g

Net carbs

8.52 g

Sugar (grams)

3.16 g

Protein (grams)

1.36 g

Sodium (milligrams)

1.56 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

23.80 mg

This nutritional information excludes the jam.

Similar Recipes

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Frosted Sicilian

Decadent Pecan Bars Your Family Will Love

https://www.justonedonna.com/2016/12/jam-and-walnuts-thumprint-cookies.html
©Just One Donna

 Enjoy!

It's easy to add me as a preferred source on Google, so my latest updates show up first in your search results and AI Overviews!

Add Just One Donna as Preferred Source

Comments

Post a Comment

Talk to me. I welcome your comments. (These comments are strictly moderated. Spammers take note.)

More Popular Posts

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

These old-fashioned whoopie pies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with a rich, creamy filling, just like the ones many of us remember. What is an original New England Whoopie Pie? This is a true New England-style recipe. If you’re looking for a true whoopie pie recipe—the kind made in New England with a cooked filling—this is it. Whoopie pies are a beloved treat, a nostalgic dessert that evokes childhood memories and continues to delight today. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! This recipe, inspired by traditional Maine-style whoopie pies, comes from my family recipe box. It delivers soft, chocolatey cakes with a rich, creamy cooked filling, no marshmallow fluff needed! The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe (Soft Cakes & Creamy Filling) This post includes affiliate links. Whoopie pies are essentially handheld cake sandwiches: soft, round, cake-like cookies embracing a ...
11 comments
Read more

Artisan Bread in Your Bread Machine

Finally. Artisan Bread from Your Bread Machine Yes, Really. If you want to make artisan-style bread using your bread machine, the secret is simple: use the dough cycle, then bake the loaf in a preheated Dutch oven. This method gives you a crisp crust and chewy crumb without any hand kneading. If you use your bread machine regularly, you already know what it does well. It mixes, kneads, and handles the first rise beautifully. It is a dependable helper in the kitchen. What it does not do especially well is produce that deep golden, crackly crust we associate with artisan bread. The good news is you do not need to give up the ease of your bread machine to get that result. You simply need to change how the bread is baked. Today I’m showing you how to use your bread machine’s dough cycle and bake the loaf in a Dutch oven for a crusty, bakery-style result.
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect.
3 comments
Read more

Rum Punch for a Party

Easy Rum Punch Recipe (Perfect Party Cocktail) Looking for an easy rum punch recipe for a party? This fruity rum punch is made ahead, full of tropical flavor, and perfect for summer gatherings. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’re sitting by the water with your toes in the sand. One sip and you’re there. Why This Rum Punch Is Perfect for Entertaining Jump to Recipe This is one of those recipes that just makes hosting easier. Make it ahead : mix it before guests arrive Serves a crowd : easy to double or triple It's No-fuss : no mixing drinks all afternoon It has a Bright, tropical flavor everyone loves If you’re hosting a barbecue, picnic, or holiday gathering, this one always works. Rum Punch Ingredients This classic rum punch uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients: Lime juice Grenadine Spiced rum Light rum or coconut rum Pineapple juice Orange juice Optional garnish: Pi...
4 comments
Read more

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!
2 comments
Read more

The Best Way to Cook Bacon: Oven vs. Stovetop

How to cook bacon is often hotly debated. Cooking bacon in a pan on the stove has always been an easy go-to method. Cooking bacon in the oven has grown in popularity over time.  Are you curious about which bacon cooking method cooks bacon faster, which method produces the crispiest bacon, or which method offers easier cleanup? Those were the primary questions I wanted to answer in this bacon cooking comparison. How to Cook Bacon (This post includes paid links.) Whether you're a breakfast aficionado or just looking for bacon cooking tips for the quickest, crunchiest, and most hassle-free way to cook your bacon, I've got answers. Check out the Oven vs. Stovetop bacon battle and discover the fastest, crispiest, and easiest way to cook bacon for breakfast.
Post a Comment
Read more

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can surely bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookie Recipe What are old-fashioned date-filled cookies?   Old-fashioned date-filled cookies are a nostalgic, soft sandwich cookie featuring two rounds of tender sugar cookie dough with a sweet, homemade date jam filling in the center.  This vintage 1930s recipe is a traditional holiday favorite, prized for its soft texture and the perfect balance of buttery dough and naturally sweet dates. This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932, so this...
18 comments
Read more

Coffee and Dessert-A Perfect Pairing

3 Easy Coffee Drinks to Make at Home (Perfect with Dessert) Coffee and dessert just belong together. Not in a fussy, go-out-to-a-restaurant kind of way… but in that simple end-of-the-day moment when you want something a little special without making a big production out of it. The good news? You don’t need any special equipment to make a really good “dessert coffee” at home. If you can brew a strong cup of coffee and warm a little milk, you’re already halfway there. In this post, I’m going to show you three easy coffee drinks you can make in your own kitchen, and exactly what to serve with them when you want that coffee shop feel without leaving the house.
55 comments
Read more

The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Today's recipe will fill your kitchen with an incredible aroma and lots of smiles. It's homemade cinnamon swirl bread made with your bread machine. If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect cinnamon swirl or ended up with gaps or leaking filling, this method fixes that using your bread machine. Bread Machine Cinnamon Swirl Bread (Soft, Easy Recipe) This post includes affiliate links. This recipe brings together the ease of your trusty bread machine with the deliciousness of a warm, sweet, and perfectly swirled cinnamon bread. Get ready for a slice of pure comfort!
2 comments
Read more

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

If you have fruit flies in your kitchen, the fastest homemade solution is a simple mixture of apple cider vinegar and one or two drops of dish soap.  The vinegar attracts the fruit flies, while the dish soap breaks the surface tension so they sink instead of escaping. Most people begin seeing results within a few hours. No chemicals. No special equipment. Just a quick fix that actually works. The Best Homemade Fruit Fly Trap (Works in Hours) Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to put up with the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years, and it works every time.
1 comment
Read more