Delish Thumbprint Cookies for the Holidays

I don’t know about you, but if there aren’t any holiday cookies at our house during November and December, is it even the holidays? I mean, come on! Who doesn’t love holiday cookies? And yummy holiday thumbprint cookies are some of my favorites because you can take the same basic dough recipe, change one or two ingredients and/or toppings, and you can have a terrific variety of cookies in a flash.

I love baking yummy holiday thumbprint cookies and making platters for our guard gate patrol, the office peeps, neighbors, friends, and of course, the fam! Sharing with you a few of my go-to fave holiday thumbprint cookie recipes. So easy peasy, and delish. No better way to say happy holidays!

So thumbs up to thumbprint cookies! (Get it?)

Tips for Making Yummy Holiday Thumbprint Cookies

When should I add the jam or chocolate centers?

Unless a recipe gives you specific instructions regarding adding the center filling before or after, I recommend adding it before you bake your cookies.

Can I use different fillings?

Of course! That’s what makes holiday thumbprint cookies so much fun! I’ve made almond thumbprints with just about every flavor of jam, as well as cream cheese – cheesecake fillings, chocolate fillings, salted caramel fillings, and many more. If it sounds yummy to you, go for it!

Can I make extra batches of dough at the same time?

Now you’re thinking! Definitely make a few batches of dough and refrigerate for a few days. You can even freeze a batch or two and take it out when you are ready to make cookies! Freezing cookie dough is smart, easy, and convenient.

Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Black & White Holiday Thumbprint Cookies

For this recipe, I use the same recipe for the dough as in the first batch of cookies, omit the almonds and extract, and use melted white chocolate and melted dark or milk chocolate for the filling. It’s also fun and easy to buy Hershey’s kisses in white, dark, and milk chocolate, and just plop them right into the centers of the cookies.

German Chocolate Coconut Thumbprint Cookies

These delish holiday thumbprint cookies are made with heavy cream, shredded coconut, and white baker’s chocolate. Feel free to add walnuts or pecans, as Joanne Rooney does in her version of this recipe. Joanne is the “editor, director, creator, chief, main cook, and home decorator at ‘A Pretty Life,’” and she has the yummiest recipes to share with her audience.

And here’s a chocolate thumbprint recipe – it’s Hershey’s – I’ve used again and again as a base to make other chocolate holiday thumbprint cookies, such as chocolate peppermint and chocolate peanut butter thumbprint cookies. For the peanut butter, I sprinkle 1/2 cup peanut butter chips in the dough. You can also make peanut butter blossom thumbprint cookies – yum!!

Did Someone Say Peanut Butter Blossoms?

Who Invented Thumbprint Cookies?

I know – you’ve been thinking about this since you saw the words, thumbprint cookie. Just where do these delish cookies, with so many variations, come from?

According to an article in Redbook Magazine,

“Thumbprint cookies are another treat that can be made so many different ways: you can do chocolate thumbprints filled with Nutella, buttery thumbprints stuffed with fruit preserves, or even thumbprints with a Hershey’s kiss in the middle. The name comes from the way the cookies are prepared: you roll them into a ball, flatten them a bit, then press your thumb on the center to make a little hole that is then filled with something sweet.

Thumbprint cookies are also known as hallongrotta, which means “raspberry cave” in Swedish. They have also been called bird’s nest cookies, butterballs, or Polish tea cakes, and they are believed to have originated in the 19th century. It’s unclear where they came from — some people say Poland, Sweden, or the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe — but they have remained a holiday staple.”

What Are You Waiting for? Drop Everything & Start Baking Yummy Holiday Thumbprint Cookies!

As I mentioned, the possibilities with holiday thumbprint cookies are endless. Have you made thumbprint cookies? I’d love to hear your favorite versions!

Before I skedaddle, I just wanted to take a sec and plug my new boutique, Shopping with Gigi. It’s located on GwenLivesWell, and I would love for you to take a peek when you find a spare minute. It’s a new venture for me, and I “opened for business” this December for the holidays. I’m starting with a small inventory of novelty gifts for the savvy woman, and it’s here you’ll find everything from food items to funny gifts, fashion jewelry, notecards, and more for the entire family, friends, and even your postman!

And perhaps, if by some small chance you’re not into holiday thumbprint cookies, I invite you to try one of the delicious beer bread mixes I’m carrying. Several flavors sold out immediately and will be re-ordered. They are soooo good!

Wishing you a joyous, happy, delicious holiday season.

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