15 Festive Thumbprint Cookies for the Holidays

November 13, 2019

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Few cookies feel as festive as a thumbprint cookie. We have recipes for fruity jam-based thumbprints, some with a chocolate filling and thumbprints with a tart citrus center. You’re sure to find a flavor combo you won’t be able to resist. Make a batch for your next cookie swap or enjoy them yourself with a hot cup of cocoa or tea.

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Cranberry-Almond Thumbprint Cookies

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A dip in egg white and a quick roll in sugar adds a delightfully crisp crust to these holiday cookies. You'll have leftover jam—perfect for spreading on toast or for glazing the Cranberry Galette with Sesame Frangipane (see Associated Recipes).

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Fig 'n' Flax Thumbprint Cookies

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We love how the ground flax adds a nutty flavor and the brown sugar caramelizes on the outside of these thumbprint cookies. Fig preserves make this cookie special; other fruit preserves could be used as well.

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Chocolate, Almond & Jam Thumbprint Cookies

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This healthy chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe incorporates dried cranberries and toasted hazelnuts into the chocolate cookie dough before it's rolled into jam-filled cookies. Here the cookies are rolled in chopped almonds and filled with cherry jam, but you can use any type of jam or nuts.

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Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

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Thumbprint cookies are an old-fashioned treat, a little cookie well holding a dot of jam. Here, they're reinterpreted with walnut oil and whole-wheat pastry flour for today's healthier eating standards—and, of course, with chocolate, simply for the taste.

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Iced Blueberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

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This healthy blueberry jam thumbprint cookie recipe incorporates white whole-wheat flour and uses less butter than traditional thumbprint cookies. The cookies are drizzled with white icing and filled with vibrant blueberry jam, but you can use any type of jam or icing to make your favorite combination.

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Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies with Chocolate

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This healthy cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle thumbprint cookie recipe has an added bonus: chocolate filling! With slightly crispy edges and a chewy, chocolaty center, these snickerdoodle cookies are the ultimate crowd pleaser.

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Hazelnut-Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Jam

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This healthy chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe incorporates dried cranberries and toasted hazelnuts into the chocolate cookie dough before it's rolled into jam-filled cookies. Here the cookies are drizzled with chocolate icing, filled with raspberry jam and topped with a whole hazelnut. You can elaborate on this basic recipe and use any type of jam, icing or nut for a plate of mixed cookies.

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Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Jam

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This healthy thumbprint cookie recipe has all the flavors of a traditional gingerbread cookie: cinnamon, ginger, cloves and molasses. These soft and chewy gingerbread cookies have an extra kick of spice with a crystallized ginger coating and are filled with raspberry jam—but feel free to fill them with whatever type of jam or preserves you have on hand.

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Christmas Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

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This healthy strawberry jam thumbprint cookie recipe is festive for the holidays with a red center and a green sugar coating. If you want to skip making your own naturally dyed sugar, look for green sparkling or decorating sugar prepared with botanical ingredients. For sources for natural dyes and sugars, see Tips.

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Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

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Enjoy these lemony cookies with a warm cup of tea.

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Walnut Raspberry Thumbprints

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Little oatmeal cookies are rolled in nuts, baked, then filled with jewel-colored fruit preserves for a sweet and pretty treat.

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Coconut Macaroon Thumbprints with Key Lime Curd

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In this healthy coconut macaroon recipe, Key lime curd brightens the center of a lightly sweetened coconut cookie. If you can't find ripe Key limes, you can substitute bottled Key lime juice, which is widely available, or try another citrus flavor like more traditional Persian limes, lemons or even bright blood oranges that will produce a coral-colored curd.

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Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies with Orange Marmalade

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This healthy thumbprint cookie recipe has all the flavors of a traditional gingerbread cookie: cinnamon, ginger, cloves and molasses. These soft and chewy gingerbread cookies are filled with orange marmalade, but we also like them filled with raspberry or apricot preserves.

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Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Apricot Jam

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This healthy chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe incorporates dried cranberries and toasted hazelnuts into the chocolate cookie dough before it's rolled into jam-filled cookies. Here the cookies are rolled in white decorating sugar and filled with apricot jam, but you can use any type of jam or preserves.

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Raspberry-Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

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These cookies taste decadent, yet are made with ingredients that have healthful benefits: oats, almonds, fruit and chocolate. The thumbprints are versatile as well—use a different type of filling or different extracts to create a completely different cookie.

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