Best 6 Italian Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

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In the realm of Italian pastries, the humble and delightful Thumbprint Cookie reigns supreme. Loved for its buttery texture and sweet, jam-filled center, this classic confection is a cherished treat that evokes memories of traditional Italian kitchens and warm family gatherings. With its origins rooted in the culinary heritage of Italy, this charming cookie has become a beloved favorite worldwide. Its distinctive thumbprint indentation, which cradles a dollop of vibrant jam, adds a touch of rustic charm and inviting appeal. As you embark on this culinary adventure, let us guide you through the delightful process of creating these irresistible Italian Thumbprint Cookies, transporting you to a world of sweet indulgence and culinary delight.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Italian Thumbprint Cookies image

My mom used to make these and fill them with grape or strawberry jelly. Now, I make them for the Christmas cookie trays with a red or green maraschino cherry or a Hershey's kiss pressed into the thumbprint.

Provided by michelerx

Categories     Dessert

Time 40m

Yield 24 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
2 egg whites
1 -2 cup chopped walnuts
any flavor jam
maraschino cherry
Hershey chocolate kiss

Steps:

  • Cream together margarine and sugar.
  • Add salt, lightly beaten egg yolks, vanilla, and almond extract, and mix thoroughly.
  • Gradually add flour and stir until well blended.
  • Roll dough into one inch balls.
  • Beat egg whites until frothy.
  • Dip dough balls into egg whites and roll in chopped nuts.
  • Place on cookie sheet about two inches apart and press a deep thrumbprint into each center.
  • Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes.
  • While cookies are still warm, fill thumbprints with jelly or press a maraschino cherry or Hershey's kiss into the thumbprint.

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Jam Thumbprint Cookies image

Make and share this Jam Thumbprint Cookies recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Chef Gorete

Categories     Dessert

Time 17m

Yield 36 Cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg, separated
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
jam, any flavour (I prefer apricot jam)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl, cream the butter with brown sugar until light and fluffy, then add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, mixing well.
  • Add the flour and salt to the creamed mixture, and mix just until the ingredients form a ball.
  • In a shallow dish, beat egg white slightly. Shape dough into 1 inch balls then roll in the egg white, then the nuts.
  • Place the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet then bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven then make the indentation, then bake an additional 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove the cookies to a cooling rack. Once cool, fill with the jam of your choice,.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 64.5, Fat 4.8, SaturatedFat 1.9, Cholesterol 11.9, Sodium 41.2, Carbohydrate 4.6, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 1.6, Protein 1.1

THUMBPRINT COOKIES I



Thumbprint Cookies I image

I usually make these around Christmas.

Provided by C. Keith

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Thumbprint Cookie Recipes

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
⅔ cup any flavor fruit jam
¼ teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
  • Separate egg, reserving egg white. Cream butter or margarine, sugar, and egg yolk.
  • Add vanilla, flour and salt, mixing well.
  • Shape dough into balls. Roll in egg white, then walnuts. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 5 minutes.
  • Remove cookies from oven. With thumb, dent each cookie. Put jelly or preserves in each thumbprint. Bake for another 8 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 194.6 calories, Carbohydrate 25 g, Cholesterol 35.8 mg, Fat 9.8 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.2 g, Sodium 116 mg, Sugar 13.1 g

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Perfect Thumbprint Cookies image

My mother, Pauline, made really nice thumbprint cookies, but I never wrote down her recipe. I knew the ingredients, but unless you have the right proportions, you won't get that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture. So, I did an image search and found a recipe that looked very similar, credited to a great-grandma named Mitzi. Since my last name is Mitzewich, that pretty much sealed the deal. In case you can't decide between a shortbread-focused cookie and a more jammy one, here's how to make both.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Thumbprint Cookie Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
⅓ cup unsifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon almond extract
¼ teaspoon fine salt
1 large egg yolk
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup white sugar, or as needed
½ cup fruit jam, divided
1 cup powdered sugar, or as needed
1 tablespoon milk, or as needed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Mix butter and powdered sugar together with a rubber spatula until creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and egg yolk. Mix with the spatula. Add flour and blend until just combined.
  • Use a sorbet scoop to portion dough into 1/2-ounce (1-tablespoon) balls. Roll balls in a plate of white sugar to coat; roll again between your palms. Place several inches apart on a silicone-lined baking sheet. Flatten balls lightly with your fingers.
  • To make shortbread cookies with a little jam, poke a well into each cookie using the end of a thick wooden spoon dusted with powdered sugar or using one of your fingers. Fill cookies with fruit jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter to let jam settle.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until tops are barely blonde and bottoms are slightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before icing.
  • Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar with a little milk until you have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. Pipe icing on top of cookies in a zigzag pattern. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
  • For a more jam-forward cookie, press your thumb into the cookies to make large, shallow indentations. Spoon in jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter.
  • Bake until not quite golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let rest on pan for 5 minutes before transferring a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.9 calories, Carbohydrate 22.8 g, Cholesterol 22.5 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 33.2 mg, Sugar 15.1 g

THUMBPRINT BUTTER COOKIES



Thumbprint Butter Cookies image

These buttery little rounds add beautiful color to a platter of treats. Fill the thumbprint in the center with any fruit preserves you like. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 35m

Yield 2-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons apricot or other fruit preserves

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in egg, oil, vanilla and butter flavoring. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes., Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Fill with preserves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 75 calories, Fat 3g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 13mg cholesterol, Sodium 52mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Thumbprint Cookies image

A signature Christmastime sweet, our tiny almond-flavored cookies bear the print of the baker's thumb, which is gently pressed into the partially baked cookie to create a well. A dollop of apricot, red currant, or raspberry jam fills the center. If you use fruit preserves you've put up yourself, the signature is even more personal.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 3 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg yolk, plus 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup blanched almonds, finely ground
1/2 cup jam or preserves, such as apricot, red currant, or raspberry, strained if desired

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolk and vanilla; beat well. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt; add to butter mixture, beating on low until combined.
  • Combine ground almonds with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Form dough into 1-inch balls, and dip in beaten egg white, then in almond-and-sugar mixture. Make a deep indentation in the center of each ball with your finger or a wooden spoon. Place 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  • Bake 10 minutes, remove from oven, and press down the centers again. Rotate sheets, and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes more. Transfer sheets to a wire rack to cool slightly. Fill center of each cookie with about 1 teaspoon jam. Let cool completely. Thumbprints can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container, between parchment, up to 1 day (or 3 days, if not filled with jam).

Tips:

  • Use room temperature butter: This will make it easier to cream together with the sugar and help the cookies spread evenly.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Use a variety of jams or preserves: This will give your cookies a different flavor each time you make them.
  • Decorate the cookies with sprinkles, nuts, or candy: This will make them more festive and fun to eat.

Conclusion:

Italian thumbprint cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are soft and chewy, with a sweet and tangy filling. These cookies are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a sweet treat, give these Italian thumbprint cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!

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