Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Crumbly, melt-in-your mouth thumbprint cookies filled with a fresh and fruity cherry jam. These are the perfect Summer time cookie!

Jump to:

• What are thumbprint cookies?
• Tips for creating the perfect thumbprint
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

What are thumbprint cookies?

Thumbprint cookies are a classic cookie made from a simple sugar cookie dough and jam. The perfect cookie to accompany a cup of tea or coffee! The cookie base is made from butter, sugar, egg and flour, while the jam can range from strawberry to marmalade.

You can see my thumbprint cookie recipe as an upgraded thumbprint cookie! Instead of a classic sugar cookie base, the cookie base is a little closer to shortbread. This gives the cookie a crumblier, melt-in-your mouth texture in comparison to sugar cookies which tend to be dry and bland.

As for the jam, nothing is better than a simple homemade jam. Of course you can use store bought jam if you don't have the time to make your own, but this Jam is extremely simple and delicious. Store bought jam tends to have more sugar than actual fruit, causing them to be super sweet rather than fruit forward. To get that fresh and fruity flavour I highly recommend making your own jam to fill these.

Tips for creating the perfect thumbprint

These cookies are incredibly simple to make and are perfect when you are looking for a fun baking project or just need a simply pick-me-up. That being said there are still a couple of tips that can help you create the best cookies you can!

• Make sure your jam is the right consistency

If your jam is too runny it can run out of the well that you created in the centre of each of the cookies, ruining the look of the cookie. If the jam is too wet it can also seep into the cookie and cause them to take on a softer, slightly mushy texture.

The jam should be firm enough that it doesn't spread everywhere when you are filling the cookies. I recommend cooking the jam further than you would think to make sure it has thickened. Once the jam has cooled and firmed up you can add a splash of water to loosen it if too firm.

• Roll the balls firmly between your palms until smooth

It is important to roll the balls until smooth before placing on your baking sheet and pressing thumbprints into them. Doing this helps the thumbprints to go on smoothly without too many cracks, creating the perfect heart shape!

• Fix up the heart!

While two thumbprints do create a heart, they won't be perfect and that's totally ok. You can go in with a smaller finger and fix up the shape of the heart after you got the initial two thumbprints down.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep my thumbprint cookies from spreading?

Make sure the butter that you're using is room temperature. There is a difference between room temperature and softened butter.

Room temperature butter should be soft enough that you can leave an indent in it, but shouldn't feel greasy on your fingers.

Do I fill thumbprint cookies before or after baking?

Thumbprint cookies should be filled before baking. This gives the jam time in the oven to firm up and set a little. That way the jam won't be spreading all over the place when you're eating the cookies!

Why are my thumbprint cookies cracking when add my thumbprint?

Making sure the ball of dough is completely smooth before adding your thumbprint is essential to creating the perfect thumbprint. If the dough isn't smooth pressing your thumb on the cookie will only bring out those features.

How do I store thumbprint cookies? Do they need to be refrigerated?

These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or in the fridge for a week. As the jam is made from fresh cherries these won't last as long as cookies made from store-bought jam.

What does cornstarch do in cookies?

Cornstarch acts as a softener in cookies, creating that melt-in-your mouth texture. It also helps prevent the cookie from spreading too much as it absorbs excess liquid!

Let's Get Baking!

I was feeling left out with all the summer fruit everyone had available, so when I managed to get my hands on some fresh cherries I knew I had to make a fun summery dessert with them. These are so fun to make and incredibly cute, I hope you like them!

If you make these make sure leave a comment and rating down below, I would love to know how it went. Also tag me on instagram @catherine.justdessertsau and hashtag #cattycakes so I can see and share your creations.

Follow me on facebook, pinterest, youtube and tiktok for more of my baking creations and updates! Until next time... happy baking!

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