These Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make with just five ingredients and no chilling required. Includes 7 fun and festive ways to decorate making them perfect for your holiday cookie platter!
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Updated December 2023
Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies: A Delightful Twist on Tradition
Are you in the mood for a delicious treat that combines the buttery goodness of shortbread with the fruity sweetness of jam? Look no further! These Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies are a delightful twist on the classic, perfect for any occasion.
Whether you follow a gluten-free or dairy-free diet or not, these cookies will satisfy your sweet cravings. Let’s dive into the recipe and explore the various options for customization.
Ingredients You’ll Need: Crafting the Perfect Shortbread
- Vegan Butter: Choose from ghee or regular unsalted butter if you’re not dairy-free. This ingredient adds a rich and creamy texture to the cookies.
- White Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the shortbread just right. You can opt for a low-sugar alternative like monkfruit sweetener or Swerve.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Infuses the cookies with a warm, aromatic flavor.
- Cornstarch: Creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Substitute with tapioca or arrowroot starch for a corn-free option.
- Gluten-Free Baking Flour: We recommend a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour for the perfect texture. If you’re not gluten-free, regular all-purpose flour works well too.
- Unsweetened Almond Milk (Optional): Add a touch of moisture if needed. Choose any milk of your preference, be it dairy-free or regular.
- Additional sugar/sweetener: Optional for rolling the dough but adds a delightful crunch.
Instructions: How to make Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
This recipe for shortbread cookies starts off with a buttery, melt in your mouth shortbread base. We love this dough because you don’t have to worry about the cookies SPREADING into a puddle of mess when you bake them like so many I have tried before…and best of all – NO CHILLING required!!
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F and line baking sheets.
- Creaming Butter and Sugar:
- Mix softened vegan butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add vanilla extract and blend.
- Adjusting Dough Consistency:
- Slowly incorporate cornstarch and flour.
- Adjust consistency with flour or optional almond milk.
-
- Forming Dough Balls:
- Knead and roll dough into tight cookie balls.
- Optionally roll in sugar for extra crunch.
- Making Thumbprint Indentations:
- Place on baking sheets, use a 1/4 teaspoon to create center indentations.
- Place on baking sheets, use a 1/4 teaspoon to create center indentations.
- Baking:
- Bake for 10-12 mins until set but pale.
- Avoid overbaking; cookies continue cooking as they cool.
- Cooling and Filling:
- Allow to dry on the sheet, then transfer to a rack.
- Fill indentations with chosen jam or toppings.
- Customizing with Various Options:
- Explore variations like Hershey’s Kisses, Turtle, Nutella M&M’s, Peppermint, Snowman, and Rudolph.
- Adding Special Touches:
- Follow specific instructions for each variation’s decoration.
- Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor:
- Let cookies cool completely before indulging in these delightful Gluten-Free Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies.
Decorating your Thumbprint Cookies:
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
The fillings are the next fun step. You can customize these jam thumbprints with whatever you like:
- Strawberry Jam
- Raspberry Preserves: Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies are a classic and our favorite variation to make for the holidays.
- Apricot Jam
Use your favorite! And even better, you’re not just limited to fruit.
Fill them up with:
- Chocolate
- Nutella
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Caramel
- Melted white chocolate.
We have 7 fun ways for you to decorate them and be the star at any holiday cookie exchange party!
Hershey’s Kisses Thumbprint Cookies
For these Hershey’s Kisses cookies, just be sure to press the Hershey’s Kisses into the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven – then allow them to dry and set. Use your favorite Hershey’s Kisses – peppermint, chocolate or cookies and cream!
Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
For these turtle thumbprint cookies, fill with melted caramels, top with a pecan half and drizzle with chocolate and caramel. You can check out the full recipe HERE.
White Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
For these White Chocolate Peppermint, once the cookies are baked and dry, just fill them with:
- white chocolate
- crushed peppermint candy canes
Nutella M&M’s Thumbprint Cookies
Nutella M&M’s Thumbprint Cookies
And for the Nutella M&M’s cookies, allow the cookies to bake and dry, then fill them with:
- Nutella
- mini M&M’s
Reindeer Cookies
For these adorable reindeer cookies:
You’ll need:
- broken pretzels for the antlers
- red Smarties or red mini M&M’s for the nose
- black licorice string cut into pieces for the eyes and nose
Before baking, flatten the dough balls with a glass instead of indenting the middle then press broken pretzel pieces for the antlers and bake. Once they come out of the oven, press a red Smarties candy into the dough for the nose and cut some black licorice pieces for the eyes and mouth and press into the dough.
Keto Thumbprint Cookies
Snowman Thumbprint Cookies
Finally, for these adorable snowmen cookies, you’ll need:
- white chocolate circle melts
- blue nonpareil sprinkles for the eyes
- orange jimmies sprinkles for the nose
- black licorice string cut for the mouth
Once the cookies are baked, immediately press a white chocolate melt into the center then place the baking sheet back into the oven for one minute, just until the chocolate melts into the cookie. Then immediately press blue round nonpareil sprinkles for the eyes, an orange jimmies sprinkle for the nose and a strip of black licorice cut into a small mouth.
And voila!! You’ve got a tray of holiday cookies that are sure to be a hit!!
Tips for Success: Baking Like a Pro
- Measure Correctly: Spoon and level your gluten-free flour to ensure accurate measurements.
- Adjust Dough Consistency: If the dough is too wet, add more flour. If it’s too dry, a bit of milk can help.
- The Perfect Thumbprint: Use your thumb or a 1/4 teaspoon to create a well in the center for the jam or other fillings.
Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Cookie Experience
- Classic Jam Thumbprints: Fill with raspberry, strawberry, apricot, or blackberry jam. Dust with powdered sugar or glaze with a mix of milk and vanilla extract.
- Hershey’s Kisses Delight: Press a chocolate Kiss into warm cookies for a gooey center.
- Turtle Thumbprints: Indulge in caramel squares, pecans, melted chocolate, and caramel sauce.
Variations: Get Creative in the Kitchen
- Nutella M&M’s Bliss: Fill with Nutella and top with festive mini M&M’s.
- Peppermint Perfection: Drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes.
- Snowman Surprise: Add white chocolate melts, blue sprinkles, and licorice for eyes and mouth.
- Decorating with Rudolph:
- Antler Magic: Instead of thumbprints, flatten dough balls with a glass. Attach broken pretzels for antlers.
- Rudolph’s Features: Once baked, press Red Smarties for the nose and cut black licorice pieces for eyes and mouth.
Substitutions: Tailor to Your Taste
Feel free to experiment with different jams, chocolates, or even create your own flavor combinations. The possibilities are endless!
Storing and Freezer Instructions
Storage Tips:
- Refrigeration: Once cooled, store these delectable thumbprint cookies in an airtight container for up to a week. To maintain freshness, consider placing a slice of bread in the container, which helps prevent cookies from becoming overly dry.
- Freezer: Freeze baked cookies and thaw when a sweet craving strikes. Or freeze the cookie dough balls and bake later.
Make-Ahead Delight:
- Prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
- When ready to bake, allow the dough to come to room temperature before forming into balls and proceeding with the recipe.
Freezer-Friendly Goodness:
- Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls on a tray until solid, then transfer them to a sealed container or zip-top bag.
- Bake directly from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time for perfect cookies whenever the craving strikes.
More classic holiday cookie recipes you will love:
These Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make with just five ingredients and no chilling required. Includes 7 fun and festive ways to decorate making them perfect for your holiday cookie platter!
- 2/3 cup 150 g vegan butter , softened to room temperature. Ghee or unsalted butter work too if you're not dairy-free
- 2/3 cup 128 g white granulated sugar , you can also use granulated sweetener of choice such as monk-fruit sweetener or Swerve for a lower sugar option
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup 28 g cornstarch , you can also use tapioca starch or arrowroot starch for a corn-free option.
- 1 2/3 cup 217 g gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour , divided (measured correctly - spoon and level method) plus 1-2 tablespoons as needed, you can also use all purpose flour if you're not gluten-free
- 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk , *optional and only as needed add a little bit at a time. You can also use any other milk of your choice (dairy-free or regular).
- Plus extra granulated sugar / sweetener in a bowl , optional for rolling the dough in
- Classic Jam Thumbprints - raspberry jam strawberry jam, apricot jam, blackberry jam, powdered sugar, milk & vanilla extract for the glaze
- Hershey's Kisses - chocolate peppermint or cookies and cream
- Turtle Thumbprints - caramel squares heavy cream, pecan halves, melted chocolate and caramel sauce
- Nutella M&M's - Nutella and mini festive M&M's
- Peppermint - Melted white chocolate crushed candy canes
- Snowman - White chocolate melts blue round nonpareil sprinkles, orange jimmies sprinkles, black licorice for the eyes and mouth - cut to size
- Rudolph - pretzels Red Smarties, cut black licorice for the eyes and mouth - cut to size
- Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy (about 5-6 minutes).
Mix in vanilla and beat until combined, scraping down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed.
Turn mixer off then slowly add in cornstarch and flour.
Turn mixer back on low and beat until the dough starts to crumble and clump together. If dough seems too wet - add more flour (1 tablespoon at a time up to 2 tablespoons). If dough is too wet, add 1-2 teaspoons milk.
Turn mixer off and gather the dough with your hands to press the dough down and together while kneading and squishing the dough with your palms to form a big ball. This might take about 2 minutes. The warmth from your hands will soften the dough and form together.
Pick off 1" pieces and roll and squish tightly into round cookie dough balls (you can roll them in granulated sugar for an extra crunch and sheen if desired) and place about 1.5" apart onto prepared baking sheets. Make an **indentation with thumb or using a 1/4 teaspoon in the center of each dough ball.
Bake in preheated oven until set but still pale & not golden, about 10 - 12 minutes. Be careful not to overbake, as the cookies will continue cooking as they are cooling. Remove from oven and indent center again if necessary. Dough will continue to cook as it cools.
- Allow to dry on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wired cookie rack to cool completely. Fill with your favorite jam or decorate with choices below.
Hershey's Kisses thumbprints: once the cookies are baked and hot out of the oven, immediately press a Hershey's Kiss into the center while the cookies are still warm. Do not move and allow to dry. The Hershey's Kiss will stick to the cookie once it is dry.
Turtle Thumbprints - fill with melted caramel squares and cream filling, top with pecan then drizzle with melted chocolate and caramel sauce. Full recipe can be found HERE
For the Nutella M&M's cookies: allow baked cookies to dry then fill with Nutella and top with festive mini M&M's.
For the white chocolate peppermint cookies: Allow baked cookies to dry then fill with melted white chocolate and top with crushed candy canes. Allow to set.
For snowmen cookies: Once cookies are baked and still warm, immediately place a white chocolate melt in the center and bake in the oven for an additional 1 minute just until the chocolate melt sticks to the cookie. Then immediately decorate with blue sprinkles for the eyes, 1 orange jimmies sprinkle for the nose and top with cut black licorice pieces for the eyes and mouth. If the sprinkles and licorice do not stick, place back in the oven for another one minute so they all stick. Remove from oven and allow to dry and set.
**For Rudolph cookies: instead of pressing an indent in the middle when you bake the dough, flatten the dough balls with a glass and then stick on the broken pretzels to form the antlers. Once the cookie is baked, immediately press with a Red Smarties' candy for the nose and cut black licorice pieces for the eyes and the mouth.
For full turtle shortbread thumbprint recipe click here
**Do not make an indent for the Rudolph cookies. Instead, flatten the dough balls with a glass and then stick on the broken pretzels to form the antlers. Once the cookie is baked, immediately press with a Red Smarties' candy for the nose and cut black licorice pieces for the eyes and the mouth.
***PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO BAKING POWDER IN THE RECIPE AS YOU SAW FROM THE FACEBOOK VIDEO. THAT WAS A TYPO & WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION.
How to store:
- Storage: Keep your cookies in an airtight container for up to a week to maintain freshness.
- Freezer Friendly: Freeze baked cookies and thaw when a sweet craving strikes. Or freeze the cookie dough balls and bake later.
Make-Ahead:
- Prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
- When ready to bake, allow the dough to come to room temperature before forming into balls and proceeding with the recipe.
Freeze Unbaked Cookie Dough:
- Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls on a tray until solid, then transfer them to a sealed container or zip-top bag.
- Bake directly from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time for perfect cookies whenever the craving strikes.
