Thumbprint Heart Cookies Recipe
These charming Thumbprint Heart Cookies are buttery, tender treats filled with your favorite jam, perfect for festive occasions or a sweet everyday snack. The soft dough is rolled into bite-sized balls, pressed into heart shapes, and baked to golden perfection before being filled with luscious jam, creating a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
Filling
- 1/4 cup jam of choice (e.g., raspberry, strawberry, apricot)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar on high speed until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the all-purpose flour and salt until just combined to form a soft dough, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape Dough Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and evenly space them about 1 ½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow for spreading.
- Form Heart Indents: Gently press your thumb or the rounded back of a teaspoon into the center of each dough ball twice to create a distinct heart-shaped indentation suitable for filling.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 12–15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, signaling they are properly baked but still tender inside.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If the heart indentations have filled in during baking, gently reshape them while warm.
- Add Jam Filling: Once cooled completely, spoon a small dollop of your favorite jam into the heart-shaped centers for a burst of fruity sweetness.
Notes
- For a vegan alternative, substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tbsp water).
- Use any jam flavor you prefer to customize the cookies to your taste.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better dough consistency.
- Press your thumb gently but firmly to avoid breaking the dough ball when forming the indentations.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Keywords: thumbprint cookies, heart-shaped cookies, jam-filled cookies, holiday cookies, easy homemade cookies
Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/thumbprint-heart-cookies-recipe/
