Aunt Maggies Jam Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

BUTTER AND JAM THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
• In another bowl, whip the butter and the sugar with a hand-held mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing just until incorporated.
• Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls with a cookie or ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place about 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a thumbprint into the center of each ball, about 1/2-inch deep. Fill each indentation with about 3/4 teaspoon jam.
• Bake cookies until the edges are golden, about 15 minutes. (For even color, rotate the pans from top to bottom about halfway through baking.) Cool cookies on the baking sheets. Serve.
• Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

AUNT MAGGIE'S JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg, and beat until completely combined. With mixer on low, add flour, and mix just until incorporated.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each). Place on baking sheets, at least 3 inches apart.
• Moisten thumb with water, and gently press the center of each ball, making an indentation about 1/2 inch wide and inch deep. In microwave or on stove, heat jam until liquefied; spoon about 1/2 teaspoon into each indentation. Bake until cookies are golden brown around edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. If storing, place in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 2 days.

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

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.

STRAWBERRY JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat.
• Fill a zip top or piping bag with the jam and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Add the cream cheese, egg, and vanilla extract and beat until combined (about 30 seconds), scraping down the bowl as needed.
• Slowly add the flour mixture and whisk at low speed until combined, about another 30 seconds.
• Scoop out 1 1/2 teaspoons of dough (or use a #60 cookie scoop), roll the dough into balls, and lay on the prepared baking sheet. You'll want to space them about 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Lightly press the bottom of a teaspoon measuring spoon into the center of each dough ball to make a small indentation.
• Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Make sure to only bake one sheet at a time.
• Remove the cookies from the oven and use the bottom of the teaspoon measuring spoon to reshape the indents in the cookies.
• Take your zip top/pastry bag and snip off a small corner. Pipe about a 1/2 teaspoon of jam into each cookie.
• Put the baking sheet back into the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes until golden around the edges.
• Follow the same steps for the next baking sheet!
• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to complete the cooling process.